Oman Participates in UNESCO World Heritage Committee Session: How This Impacts Tourism and Investment Opportunities

• By HiAdmin
• July 9, 2025
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Oman is participating in the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), currently taking place at the organization’s headquarters in Paris.

The Omani delegation is led by Ambassador Amina bint Salem Al Balushi, the Permanent Delegate of Oman to UNESCO.

The session will discuss the inclusion of over 30 new sites to the World Heritage List and review the status of more than 250 existing sites to assess the environmental and developmental challenges they face.

Key sessions will focus on critical issues, including the impact of climate change on heritage sites, ways to enhance local community involvement in protecting these sites, and developing sustainable management tools and measures for safeguarding sites at risk. Additionally, the effectiveness of national and international plans to maintain the exceptional values of the world heritage sites will be evaluated.

Oman’s participation in this session underscores its commitment to protecting cultural and natural heritage and passing it on to future generations. It also highlights the country’s presence in international cultural forums and supports its current and future heritage files, affirming its adherence to the principles of the international convention for the protection of cultural and natural heritage.

It is noteworthy that Oman has successfully added several sites to the World Heritage List, including Bahla Fort in 1987, the archaeological sites of Bat, Al Khutam, and Al Ayn in 1988, the Falaj irrigation system in 2006, the Land of Frankincense in 2000, and the ancient city of Qalhat in 2018.

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Oman’s participation in the UNESCO World Heritage Committee underscores its commitment to cultural heritage preservation, presenting a unique opportunity for businesses to engage in sustainable tourism and heritage conservation initiatives. Investors and entrepreneurs should consider leveraging Oman’s rich cultural assets to develop eco-friendly tourism ventures that align with global trends towards sustainability. However, they must also be aware of potential regulatory challenges that could arise in navigating the complexities of heritage site management.

Source: Oman News