Geotourism is the new buzzword in the industry for nature based tourism. With its world famous geological features and reputation as a nature lover’s paradise, the Sultanate of Oman is well placed to take advantage of this latest tourism trend.

Geotourism has been described as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographic character of a place, including its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well being of its residents. It is based on the magic of discovery and the power of authenticity experienced through the contact with the natural heritage of the land.

More specifically this can mean the opportunity to view natural landforms, to understand the story of the processes that shaped them over time, and to discover how these affect lifestyles and become a fundamental part of a cultures identity.

The Sultanate already has a small but thriving geotourism niche industry that caters mainly for special interest groups. For example Oman has a surface landform that includes the best preserved complete sequence of the oceanic crust (Oman-Ophiolite). its easy accessibility for study is unique and attracts scientists and amateur geologists from all over the world.

The Ministry of Tourism has identified the opportunity to further develop its geological heritage to cater for a wider range of users and has subsequently initiated a project aiming to promote Oman’s amazing geological heritage, focusing on the Sultanates majestic landscapes, geological phenomena and fossils.
The development will play an important role in diversifying tourism products in the Sultanate and strengthen Omani standing in the international arena as a destination with many unique nature-based products.

The project will enrich the tourism sector with new natural attractions, it will narrate stories about the geological history and how Oman has evolved throughout the geological time scale.
In Oman, geological stories can be found everywhere. Some of these are presented on a dramatic scale such as in the massive folding an faulting that can be seen on parts of Oman’s 700 km long mountain range, or the huge piles of pillow lava in wadi Al-Jizzi which are evidence of underwater volcanoes releasing magma to be rapidly cooled deep on the ocean floor.

Others stories are found in smaller detail, such as how the fossils of sea creatures can be found deep inland or the story of once mighty forests in areas that are now barren deserts.
These stories can even be found even in the hustle and bustle of urban areas. For example visitors to Muscat Corniche need only to stand and face the ocean in order to imagine the scene back in time around 90 million years ago when a several kilometre thick slab of the oceanic crust started to push its way over the top of the northern coastline of Oman. This unusual overthrusting continued for around 20 Million years, pushing rocks originating from deep within the ocean hundreds of kilometres inland. The enormous weight of these caused the whole of Oman’s crustal plate to tilt downward.

In all 25 sites have been selected as particularly outstanding geological areas and several geoparks of international significance have been highlighted. These include the Rudists fossil site at Wilayat Mahdah, the Rudists, Stromatolite fossils and petrified wood in the Huquf region, the Eclogite deposit of highly pressurised metamorphic rock in Muscat, and the Stone Park at Ad Duqm featuring naturally sculptured sandstone and limestone.

Additionally a number of touring routes will be developed. Each route will feature places of geological interest such as:

Amazing geological structures - mountains, deserts, hot springs, and 850 MY crystalline basement rocks
Impressive geomorphological features - canyons, wadis, caves, fossil magma chamber, and rocks artistically sculptured by erosion

Fossil occurrences - including those from dinosaurs, giant 100 MY marine bivalve mollusks, and the remains of a petrified forest

Examples of mineral occurrences - Salt and Sulphur domes,

Ancient and recent mining activities (Oman’s first oil was discovered in 1962).
Some of these geological attractions have already been scientifically documented. Some such as Al Hoota Cave have already been developed. Others will require further research in order to provide information for conservation and interpretation planning. The Ministry of Tourism will additionally put efforts into providing essential infrastructure and services for these.

The Ministry of Tourism is aware that Oman’s unique geological assets need to be developed and managed in a responsible and sustainable fashion, so that they can be passed on intact to future generations.
Apart from the challenges that can occur through cultural differences between visitors and locals, or environmental issues such as pollution, geotourism attractions can sometimes be at risk from both professional mineral collectors as well as from the seemingly innocent tourist who wants a little piece of memorabilia to take home.

An often cited case that demonstrates the latter issue is the Petrified Forest Park in north east Arizona. Originally the park was full of little pieces of petrified wood, spread over a vast area. Each year thousands of tourists would pick up a little of the wood to take home with them, thinking there could be no harm in taking only a small piece. Over the years huge quantities of petrified wood have been taken from the park and the very thing that made it special has now gone.

In Oman it is illegal to take any form of mineral from any site. In order to conserve the geotourism sites and especially those that are subject to theft, the Ministry of Tourism intends to maintain a close relationship with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Directorate General of Minerals) the custodian of geology in Oman, as well as other concerned organisations such as the Ministry of Environment Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, the Sultan Qaboos University, the Royal Oman Police, interest groups such as the Geological Society of Oman and private sector operators.
By careful management geotourism development has the potential to bring substantial benefits to selected local Omani communities; it will create employment opportunities for local people, and will also generate income for the community in return for provision of peripheral services.

As for the visitors, they will be able to enjoy and learn more about the unique geographical character of Oman and will gain additional satisfaction from the knowledge that the money they spend will help maintain the geographical diversity and distinctiveness of the place they are visiting.