Tourist safety should be the highest priority

The cliché is that Oman's geographical terrain is ideal for adventure and fun, with rugged mountains on one side and a pristine coastline of nearly 3,000 km on the other, stretching from the south to the north. Let's not forget the vast desert areas that offer ample opportunities for dune bashing, trekking, and hiking trails, among other activities. However, adventure also calls for caution, especially in difficult terrains, and for first-time tourists in the country. It is extremely important to follow weather updates and take them seriously, as the sea can turn rough on short notice, and some mountain tops are susceptible to rapid weather changes that can lead to flash floods due to thunderstorms. In this context, the execution of guidelines is crucial to preserving the country's image as a safe tourism destination. The recent incident involving a tourist boat sent shockwaves across the country but also sent a strong message to all tourism service providers to follow guidelines, provide timely service vessels and take weather warnings from the meteorological department seriously, rather than relying solely on years of experience. "For marine tourism operators, it is necessary to follow weather warnings on the state of the sea regardless of the prevailing conditions at the time of starting the service. In a region known for its extreme hot weather, it is unlikely that a foreign tourist will be aware of the volatility in our climate. It is the responsibility of the service provider to ensure the safety of tourists on board before venturing into the sea," said a tour operator at the Marina Bandar Al Rowdha. He added, "Another issue we face all the time is the reluctance of some tourists to use safety jackets and their disregard for safety instructions. These are seasoned travellers who may have enjoyed similar experiences during trips to other countries. They tend to take safety instructions lightly, endangering their own lives, fellow travellers and crew members in the process." Sources in the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT) affirm that regulations and guidelines are in place for all marine tour operators, but ultimately, it is the responsibility of individuals and enterprises to ensure their implementation. Ahmed al Balushi, a guide affiliated with a leading tour operator, said, "It is not just marine tourism that is risky; even trekking and simple visits to small mountainous areas can be challenging. We brief all our guests to use appropriate clothing, footwear, water and other safety accessories. More importantly, we emphasise that trip plans can be changed or cancelled without prior notice based on the local climate." Ravish Parab, who recently arranged a three-day tour for one of his visiting guests, said, "Overall, experiences were good during a visit to dolphin watching or during travel inland, but the execution of safety standards can still be improved. It felt like they were not uniformly followed by everyone, but in general, the operators were polite and helpful."