Muscat: The international conference titled "Museums and Their Role in Tourism Development" will open next Sunday at the Oman Across Ages Museum, with participation from over 42 researchers, educators, and experts from 21 countries.
The event is sponsored by Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, the Minister of Heritage and Tourism, and coordinated by the Oman Across Ages Museum in collaboration with the National Records and Archives Authority and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
The conference, which lasts three days, will focus on the function of museum and legacy institutions in tourism growth and cultural preservation. It also aims to encourage museum-based tourism, the cultural economy, and related investment possibilities.
Furthermore, it will explore the educational and knowledge-based responsibilities of museums through academic collaborations and the use of modern digital technology such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality to enhance visitor experiences.
Another important goal is to facilitate the exchange of experience both locally and internationally in this area.
Workshops and an accompanying exhibition
A key component of the international convention will be six specialized workshops aimed at improving event outcomes. These workshops will address critical museum-related challenges and provide a venue for participants to exchange knowledge in an engaging way.
Topics include digital technology, museum management, community involvement, and cultural content creation, which bridge theoretical approaches with real applications.
A companion exhibition will highlight contributions from both governments and commercial organizations, as well as important scientists and academics. The exhibition attempts to highlight the cultural and economic elements of museums, as well as their increasing social and tourist responsibilities.
Encouraging knowledge-based occupations
Moza AlWardiyah, Assistant Director General for Museum Affairs, emphasized the importance of the occasion, saying that it provides a valuable chance to showcase museums as vibrant cultural and economic engines.
She emphasized that Oman's hosting of such a prominent group of professionals demonstrates the country's resolve to improving museums' cultural and social responsibilities.
This, she said, promotes sustainable development goals and bolsters national attempts to conserve and promote cultural heritage through tourism. AlWardiyah added entities to demonstrate the collaboration's spirit of institutional synergy and emphasize the value of using culture and legacy as a long-term economic resource to strengthen identity and enhance the visitor experience.
The event will be accompanied by the Royal Orchestra.
The Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra will perform two musical evenings on Sunday and Monday as part of the conference's side events. The program will include "The Epic of Ahmed bin Majid," which provides an artistic experience that celebrates Oman's naval past and preserves its cultural heritage.
This participation provides a unique opportunity to experience the event in its historical and creative aspects, supporting the conference's cultural message through musical narrative.
