Sustainable Tourism Workforce Development in Oman: Integrating Investment Strategies, Omanization Outcomes, and Oman Vision 2040 Priorities


Authors : Al Bahri Khalaf Sulaiman Khalaf; Aza Azlina Md Kassim

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 10 - October


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/5cdfft7c

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/56yskmkw

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25oct433

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.


Abstract : This conceptual paper develops an Omanization-centered mechanism explaining how mission-oriented tourism investment can produce sustainable workforce development in Oman. Investment design that explicitly commits to Omanization output sentry, upskilling, progression, and retention-is theorized to be the proximate pathway through which projects strengthen workforce capability, equity, resilience, and productivity. Governance and measurement are positioned as a supportive shell rather than additional causal stages: Vision 2040 provides target setting and accountability; the EFQM model supplies leadership and strategy routines that embed localization within organizational plans and continuous improvement; and the UN’s SF-MST framework standardizes indicators for transparent, comparable reporting. The paper synthesizes recent sector trajectories (2018-2023) and consolidates a decision-useful KPI dashboard (Table 1) and an alignment matrix linking design levers to Omanization outputs and Vision 2040 priorities (Table 2). Theory-driven propositions (P1-P6) specify testable links for future empirical work, including the roles of training/credentialing, demand stability, process-technology complementarities, EFQM alignment, and place-based pipelines. Implications are drawn for policy, managerial practice, and education/training systems, together with a sequenced implementation roadmap and monitoring and evaluation arrangements.

Keywords : Omanization; Sustainable Tourism Workforce; Investment Strategies; Oman Vision 2040; EFQM.

References :

  1. Al-Harrasi, A., & Al-Maawali, A. (2023). Tourism workforce localisation and the challenges of Omanization in Vision 2040. Journal of Tourism Policy and Research, 15(2), 145–162.
  2. Al-Mukhaini, H. (2022). Human capital development in Oman’s tourism sector: Prospects and challenges. Middle East Journal of Tourism Studies, 11(3), 201–219.
  3. Baum, T., & Robinson, R. (2024). Strengthening the tourism workforce. In OECD (Ed.), OECD tourism trends and policies 2024 (pp. 79–108). OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/17ff33a3-en
  4. EFQM. (2025). The EFQM model. https://efqm.org/the-efqm-model/
  5. International Labour Organization. (2022). The future of work in the tourism sector: Sustainable and safe recovery and decent work. https://www.ilo.org/resource/conference-paper/future-work-tourism-sector-sustainable-and-safe-recovery-and-decent-work
  6. International Labour Organization. (2022). Tourism employment and skills gaps: Global evidence and implications. ILO.
  7. Ministry of Heritage & Tourism [MoHT]. (2024a). Total workers in the tourism sector (2018–2023) [Statistical tables]. https://mht.gov.om/Pages/Media/DownloadCenter/Statistics.aspx
  8. Ministry of Heritage & Tourism [MoHT]. (2024b). General indicators of tourism statistics (2005–2023) [Statistical tables]. https://mht.gov.om/Pages/Media/DownloadCenter/Statistics.aspx
  9. Ministry of Heritage & Tourism [MoHT]. (2024c). General indicators of hotels activity for the years 2009–2022 [PDF]. https://mht.gov.om/Pages/Media/DownloadCenter/Statistics.aspx
  10. Ministry of Heritage & Tourism [MoHT]. (2024d). Number of employees in hotels sector by governorate for the years 2009–2022 (SOP-07-16) [PDF]. https://mht.gov.om/Pages/Media/DownloadCenter/Statistics.aspx
  11. Ministry of Heritage & Tourism [MoHT]. (2024e). Arrivals by nationality (2011–March 2024) [PDF]. https://mht.gov.om/Pages/Media/DownloadCenter/Statistics.aspx
  12. National Centre for Statistics & Information [NCSI]. (2024). Tourism indicators (monthly/annual bulletins). https://www.ncsi.gov.om/
  13. National Centre for Statistics & Information [NCSI]. (2025). Tourism Satellite Account–based indicators (selected releases). https://www.ncsi.gov.om/
  14. OECD. (2024). OECD tourism trends and policies 2024. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/80885d8b-en
  15. Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-Up Unit. (2023). Oman Vision 2040 booklet [PDF]. https://www.oman2040.om/uploads/publication/20231105221146-2023-11-05publication221143_.pdf
  16. Sultanate of Oman. (2023). Royal Decree No. 53/2023 issuing the Labour Law [Official English translation]. https://bwcimplementation.org/sites/default/files/resource/OM_Labor%20Law_EM.pdf
  17. UNCTAD. (2025). Guiding principles for sustainable investment in tourism. United Nations. https://doi.org/10.18356/9789210029583
  18. UNWTO. (2023). Measuring the sustainability of tourism (MST): Proposals for an indicator set [PDF]. United Nations World Tourism Organization. https://webunwto.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2023-09/MST_Indicators_EG_version_Sep2023_13092023_REV1.pdf
  19. UNWTO, & United Nations Statistics Division. (2024). Statistical framework for measuring the sustainability of tourism (SF-MST) [PDF]. https://webunwto.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/2024-02/SF-MST_version_WEB_FEB2024.pdf
  20. World Travel & Tourism Council [WTTC]. (2024). Travel & tourism economic impact research 2024 (global). WTTC/Oxford Economics.

21. World Travel & Tourism Council [WTTC]. (2025). Oman: Travel & tourism economic impact research (country data hub). https://researchhub.wttc.org/product/oman-economic-impact-report

This conceptual paper develops an Omanization-centered mechanism explaining how mission-oriented tourism investment can produce sustainable workforce development in Oman. Investment design that explicitly commits to Omanization output sentry, upskilling, progression, and retention-is theorized to be the proximate pathway through which projects strengthen workforce capability, equity, resilience, and productivity. Governance and measurement are positioned as a supportive shell rather than additional causal stages: Vision 2040 provides target setting and accountability; the EFQM model supplies leadership and strategy routines that embed localization within organizational plans and continuous improvement; and the UN’s SF-MST framework standardizes indicators for transparent, comparable reporting. The paper synthesizes recent sector trajectories (2018-2023) and consolidates a decision-useful KPI dashboard (Table 1) and an alignment matrix linking design levers to Omanization outputs and Vision 2040 priorities (Table 2). Theory-driven propositions (P1-P6) specify testable links for future empirical work, including the roles of training/credentialing, demand stability, process-technology complementarities, EFQM alignment, and place-based pipelines. Implications are drawn for policy, managerial practice, and education/training systems, together with a sequenced implementation roadmap and monitoring and evaluation arrangements.

Keywords : Omanization; Sustainable Tourism Workforce; Investment Strategies; Oman Vision 2040; EFQM.

CALL FOR PAPERS


Paper Submission Last Date
31 - December - 2025

Video Explanation for Published paper

Never miss an update from Papermashup

Get notified about the latest tutorials and downloads.

Subscribe by Email

Get alerts directly into your inbox after each post and stay updated.
Subscribe
OR

Subscribe by RSS

Add our RSS to your feedreader to get regular updates from us.
Subscribe