Local Cultures – Global Spaces

Abstract

The Sultanate of Oman initiated a modernization agenda in the 1970s supported by its newly discovered oil revenue. The recent instability of oil prices led to the government reevaluating its strategies for future growth. Two massive planning projects were put forward: Oman Vision 2020-2040 and Oman National Spatial Strategy. A non-hydrocarbon-reliant economic development plan using diverse resources was adopted in both programs. Since Oman has a genuine wealth of heritage dating back to the third millennium B.C.; the tourism sector is considered a key pillar of those growth plans. The documentation and conservation of Omani cultural heritage started in the 1990s. One of the main objectives of this movement was to produce guidelines for reusing the historical fabric to maximize its role in the tourism sector. However, all those efforts had to wait till 2017 to be realized when the legislature finally authorized the private sector to invest in rehabilitation of traditional monuments. Currently 12 usufruct contracts have been signed. These actions resulted in a remarkable success in diversifying tourism in Oman from mainly ecotourism to cultural tourism. The new trend opened a window for Oman to receive global tourist appreciation, leading the country to earn a development average of 227% between 2021 and 2022. A case study will be analyzed. This paper aims to reveal this prosperous cultural globalization as a model to be followed by countries with similar heritage wealth, scholars, stakeholders and local institutions.