Tuesday 23 / December / 2025
Times News Service
Muscat: The Media, Tourism, and Culture Committee of the Shura Council held its second meeting of the third regular session (2025–2026) of the tenth term (2023–2027) on Tuesday, during which it reviewed a number of items listed on its agenda.
At the outset of the meeting, the committee reviewed several responses to submitted proposals, including the Council of Ministers’ appreciation of the efforts exerted by the Shura Council in presenting proposals that support the public interest.
This was reflected in the views submitted by the Shura Council regarding the introduction of a long-term cultural visa, which was recently translated into practice through the issuance by the Royal Oman Police of Decision No. 156/2025 amending certain provisions of the Executive Regulation governing the residence of foreigners.
The amendment included provisions related to the cultural visa, which is expected to contribute to enhancing cultural activity in the Sultanate of Oman.
In another context, the committee reviewed the response of the Council of Ministers to the submitted proposal concerning the adoption by the Ministry of Information of an initiative to establish personal communication channels and enhance their operational mechanisms.
The committee discussed the substance of the response and the directions it outlined, which aim to strengthen institutional communication, develop modern communication tools, and improve the level of engagement with society in a manner that serves the public interest and elevates the institutional media message.
The meeting also reviewed and discussed the committee’s report on the submitted proposal to transform the Wilayat of Qurayyat into an integrated tourism zone.
Members examined the developmental and tourism dimensions of the proposal, its importance in leveraging the wilayat’s natural and heritage assets, its role in stimulating tourism activity and supporting the local economy, as well as its contribution to creating new investment opportunities and employment prospects.
In the same context, the committee discussed its report on the submitted proposal to establish integrated service stations for mobile homes and tourism services, in response to the growing needs of tourists and in support of providing appropriate infrastructure that strengthens the tourism sector across the governorates.
During the meeting, the committee also reviewed the executive program of its work plan for the current third regular session (2025–2026), during which work priorities and focus areas for the session were discussed, with a view to strengthening the committee’s role in following up on issues related to the tourism and culture sectors, in line with development plans and Oman Vision 2040.
The meeting was chaired by Abdullah Hamad Al Harthy, Chairman of the Committee, and attended by the committee members of the Media, Tourism, and Culture Committee.
