London:Sayyid Ibrahim Said Al Busaidi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, engaged in discussions with the President of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) during the Sultanate of Oman's participation in the World Travel Market (WTM) event in London. The meeting was part of efforts to strengthen ties with international travel and tourism organizations and to utilize specialized studies and indicators to bolster the sector's growth.
According to Oman News Agency, the World Travel and Tourism Council recognized the Sultanate of Oman as a regional leader in women's participation in travel and tourism careers. This recognition was part of a briefing paper on the "Power, Efficiency and Opportunity" indicators, with OMRAN Group highlighted as a key partner for sustainability efforts.
The briefing paper revealed that women constitute 28 percent of travel and tourism jobs in Oman, compared to an average of 18 percent across the Middle East. This highlights the significant role of the sector in offering professional opportunities for women and boosting their economic involvement. Additionally, data showed that 13 percent of tourism jobs in Oman are held by youth, surpassing the less than 9 percent youth employment rate across the broader economy, demonstrating the sector's potential to provide diverse career paths for young people.
The "Power, Efficiency and Opportunity" framework offers a detailed analysis of the travel and tourism sector's performance. The Power index evaluates the sector's GDP, job, and investment contributions; the Efficiency index examines environmental performance and resource usage; and the Opportunity index emphasizes employment and the inclusion of women and youth.
Recognizing Oman's achievements within these indicators enhances its representation at the World Travel Market in London, by highlighting tourism's societal impacts and promoting Oman's abundant tourism assets, experiences, and investment opportunities.