Under the patronage of H.E. Maitha bint Saif Al Mahrouqi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Oman Oil Marketing Company launched a new program called ‘Ather’, designed to foster a culture of volunteering in the field of Tourism. The special ceremony was attended by representatives from the government and private sectors along with members from Oman Oil Marketing Company management team.

Scheduled to run to the end of 2018, the program will focus on training volunteers and raising their awareness on the various challenges facing the tourism sector. The program will be rolled out in three stages starting with obtaining a ‘Volunteer Passport’. During this stage, participants will undergo 360 training on the various elements needed to enhance the tourism sector in Oman, including the facilities, services and community initiatives. Armed with the information they have acquired, volunteers will then be encouraged to organize their own activities and earn points on their ‘Volunteer Passports’.

The second stage will focus on knowledge, where participants will be attend a series of workshops and sessions on tourism. The final stage of the program will aim to translate all that was learn into actions through real-life experiences and initiatives.

Jaber Sulaiman Al Busaidi, Corporate Affairs Manager at Oman Oil Marketing Company, said, “I would like to thank our partners Tawoon, who have supported us in turning this program to reality. We believe in the importance of volunteering and the key role Omani youth can play in building a sustainable tourism sector in the Sultanate. Oman has a lot to offer the world and it is our responsibility as a home-grown company to help realize its potential.”

Throughout the years, the company has organized and played a key role in organizing community activities to inspire individuals all over Oman to make a difference to the Sultanate.