Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) will carry out a one year research project on Al Jabal al Akhdar (The Green Mountain).  Vice Chairman of SQU, Amer al Rawas signed the research project agreements with Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Mohammed al Toobi in Oman yesterday. 

The research project aims to find ways of integrating the local community in the tourist business around Al Jabal al Akhdar, which is one of the highest points in the Sultanate.  More than 110,000 people visit Al Jabal al Akhdar each year.  About 50 percent of visitors are Omanis, 35 percent are foreign tourists, and 13 percent are from the Gulf region. The tourism minister said the folklore, handcrafts, traditions, culture, and lifestyle of the local community must be considered when formulating development policies.  Amer al Rawas said the research project is part of on-going co-operation between SQU and the tourism ministry.   He said the project will focus on the involvement of local communities in tourism, rather than tourist destinations in the region.