Importance of risk management in adventure tourism highlighted

By Zainab Al Nasseri — MUSCAT: March 27 - The Ministry of Tourism on Monday launched Risk Management and Safety in Adventure Tourism (RMSAT) programme, as part of its 15 initiatives aimed at encouraging adventure sports and tourism activities in Oman. The programme, launched under the auspices of Sayyid Adil bin al Murdas al Busaidy, Adviser of Tourism Affairs at the Ministry of Tourism, resulted from the national programme to promote economic diversification ‘Tnafeeth’ which is backed by Implantation and Follow up Support Unit. The launching presentation of the programme included a working paper, which explained the purpose of introducing the programme, its importance and its primary role in developing the tourism sector in the Sultanate. It also highlighted the roles of the programme’s stakeholders and institutions of the Omani tourism sector, which organise adventure tourism activities. The programme was launched during a presentation, prepared by the Ministry, in cooperation with supportadventure.co.nz, which is supervised by the New Zealand Government, and Maven International Consulting Company. Christopher Knoll, Director of International Enterprise Development, explained the programme and its contents; namely structuring the system, safety management plans, standard operating procedures, managing the risks, the teamwork, and the activity practitioners, types of equipment, accidents, emergencies and examination of systems and records. During the presentation, an adventure tourism activities guide, that particularly highlighted the wadis, was also launched. The same has been prepared by the Ministry of Tourism, in cooperation with the New Zealand Government’s Business, Innovation and Employment Department; Stephen Jones, Development Consultant at Oman Tourism Development Company; and the Chairman of the Empowerment of Adventure and Nature activities in Oman. The guide includes a description for adventure tourism in wadis, the risk identification and management process, the mechanism of classifying wadis, the most prominent activities can be done in wadis, and how to manage the risks, the teamwork, the activity practitioners, and types of equipment, accidents, and emergencies. Sayyid Adil al Busaidy, Adviser of Tourism Affairs at the Ministry of Tourism, said, “The Sultanate has rich environmental and natural resources which are of interest and wonder to divers across the GCC and beyond. In keeping with the same, the RMSAT programme and guide is a sustainable tourism service initiative aimed at helping position the Sultanate as a world-class tourist destination in the adventure tourism sector”. He added, “Several criteria and requirements contribute to the development of adventure tourism sector in the Sultanate, and to ensure that tourists from all over the world embark on an exciting tourism adventure filled with memories and extraordinary experiences that are unforgettable, it was necessary that we considered launching this initiative. Not only does the programme promote economic diversification; but at the same time, is also in line with the best international practices, that ensure the safety of tourists and practitioners of adventure activities”. Shedding light on the main objectives of this initiative, Stephen Jones, Development Consultant at Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran), who is spearheading the project said, “We seek to support the adventure tourism sector in the Sultanate by providing a risk and safety management system that is clear, comprehensive and scientific. One that contributes to ensuring that a provision is made for all required safety processes and that reduces risks practically to the lowest possible level. All this — because one must not forget that the adventure tourism sector is linked to activities and risks that may reach a degree of danger, whether in the mountains, deserts, sea or in other places”. Elaborating further on the sidelines of the presentation, he said, “We met with specialists from the concerned authorities and with representatives of companies and institutions from the adventure tourism in the Sultanate, as we aimed to explain the programme and highlight its guidelines and requirements. An integrated tourism product, which enhances the ministry’s efforts to develop the adventure tourism sector in Oman, the presentation gave us the chance to explain the programme, and was an opportunity to open the door for discussion with all relevant parties”. The Ministry of Tourism will organise further presentations of the ‘Risk Management and Safety in Adventure Tourism Programme’. A team from the Ministry will give a second presentation in Khasab in the Governorate of Musandam on 29th March, followed by a third presentation in Salalah on March 30.