May 9 - Given that UAE has become of one of the tourist destinations of choice, other Gulf states are inclined to follow a similar model and promote tourism in their countries. In this regard, Oman is looking to diversify its economy with the help of tourism. "The government decided to develop tourism and diversify the economy by not letting just the oil play the 100 per cent role," Salim Bin Adey Al Mamari, director-general of Oman's Tourism Promotion department. "Other sectors can also play that role and tourism is one of them,” he added. Al Mamari also pointed out that Oman had already made a strategy in 2008 to spend over Dh146.9 million) per year to promote the country internationally.
However, Oman is looking for tourists of a different kind: "We are not looking for backpackers but for those who will spend money and who will stay more in the country," said Al Mamri. "We are targeting high-end tourists."
Similarly, Kuwait hopes to do the same this year. I think [the UAE's] experience has let other countries realise that tourism can bring in a lot of money for the countries," said Majda Behbehani, Kuwait's director of Marketing and Foreign Relations for Tourism. "With the oil there can also be tourism," she said. Majda said that the financial stability in GCC countries has always directed the flow of tourism from those countries and not to them.
This former weapons factory has now become the hub of Chinese art and culture. This 'factory' comprises of several galleries and rooms showcasing contemporary fashions; art pieces by local and international artists; some stellar photography and some very beautiful hand painted textiles. Viewing these various exhibits is a treat indeed. Timings: Daily 10 30 A.M- 7 P.M Address: Dashanzi A...
A staple of Cairo's skyline, the citadel was built in the 12th century to protect the region from the Crusaders and has since become one of the greatest monuments in the world in representing medieval warfare. Moreover, inside the citadel you will find small museums, the Mosque of al-Nasir, and Yusuf's Well. Besides its historical allure, tourists also find this site attractive because of its br...
The best preserved relic of a thousand years of Islamic rule, this is the richest marketplace in all the Arabian Peninsula. It is a large, open-air market, covered in patches by plastic, fabrics, wooden planks, hides, and any other material that the locals could find, giving a literal manifestation to the symbolic merging of cultures and ethnicities within the city. Divided into sections according...
As you may have noticed, Jordan is a car culture. It's no secret that Jordan's King Abdullah II is a car lover. So was his father. The Royal Automobile Museum displays the car collection of the royal family. Middle Eastern royalty might conjure images of gleaming Lamborghinis and other exotic super-cars, but the collection here is actually pretty diverse. Nearly all th...