The largest business group in Oman, the Zubair Corp, announced Tuesday that it will build the Sultanate’s largest resort, costing 200 million dollars, reported the Gulf News Wednesday.
The group said that the 700-room venture will be established in cooperation with the Hong Kong based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.
“The Barr Al Jissah Resort, named after a historical site in Muscat, is an expression of growing partnership between the government and the private sector to boost Oman's high potential in tourism,” said industry minister, Maqbool bin Ali Sultan.
The project also reflects investors' faith in Oman's economy, he said.
Barr Al Jissa Resort, 45 minutes from Seeb International Airport, would be completed by mid-2004, said the paper, adding that construction work will start in September.
The resort will include a deluxe hotel, a five-star hotel and a four-star hotel and would be spread over 120 landscaped acres.
“To encourage the private sector tourism industry, we have worked hard to ease the investment procedures to do with tourism projects in Oman,” a government official was quoted as saying in an online study by Trade Port organization.
For example, if a company wished to build a hotel or a marina. the procedures used to be a bit difficult, said the official. “But now, they can run smoothly and within a couple of weeks the required paperwork can be completed.” -- Albawaba.com
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