Don't depend on the tourist money...

With oil and gas reserves now reaching the point of decline, Oman has quite wisely opted to explore alternative ways to boost funds and support an ever-growing (and very demanding) population. 
Subsidised medical treatment, water and electricity doesn't come cheap, neither does a monthly stipend for having no job. 


Pristine coastlines and beautiful mountains, some of the best diving in the world and a desert quarter to rival the Sahara means that tourism is the way forward. One only has to look at the number of hotels sprouting up on premium cuts of land, and the expansion of the national airline, to see that this is a project that is going full-on towards getting some hard-earned dollars from visiting tourists. 


Local blogger Andy In Oman, has run numerous reviews of these new establishments, along with Muscat Muttering's Mr. Sythe doing an extensive plug for the Chedi hotel, and all of it's new facilities. 

The message is simple: Come to Oman. Eat, drink and be merry. See the sights, get pampered in five star luxury, pay through the nose for it, and go home happy. 
The system is cyclical, we hope you will come back again someday, or at least recommend your experience to others. 


But is there worrying news on the horizon?


The Maldives, one of the tourist destinations touted by Oman Air on giant billboards in London and Paris, has just passed a law which closes down all health spas. Not just the dodgy ones: all of them. Hundreds. 


Thousands of people protested in the streets, demanding the heads of the government and in order to restore order, this law was passed. 
It is phase one of the order. They are also going to ban the sale of alcohol. 
The people have spoken. And they have every right to do so. No spas, no alcohol means no tourists. You reap what you sow. They just need to find a new way of supporting themselves in a country that has been described sarcastically as abundant in carbon reserves with a stable independent economy that is no way dependent upon tourism nor facing threat from climate change with absolutely no need to plan for the future.


The above action made me think a little bit about somewhere a bit similar.... Oman, and what the Grand Mufti had to say about the Opera House. They tell me that ballets are in his gun-sights also, and that the recent performance of Carmen had to be toned down. 


By logic, the next step now should be to follow suit with the islanders in Malé and shut down the spas at the Chedi, Shangri-La and Jebel Shifa, no?


All fine and dandy, go ahead. Either by democracy or the latest trend of protesting, the people will get what they want. 


But here's some food for thought from a recent conversation. At the moment, there's trouble in Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Bahrain, Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria, Maldives, Pakistan, Southern Thailand, Southern Philippines, Somalia.


Is there a common denominator across all of the above that I am missing?

A Message from Base Camp....

For many moons now, I have been watching the Omani blogosphere with great interest, particularly in the way that it has been developing. 
Over the past five years or so, awareness of the power of the internet has manifested itself in the psyches of more and more locals and expatriates who spend their days living and working in this beautiful country. 


Oman for me, is no longer a mixed-up affair. The dark and light sides of what lies within it's borders get clearer as each day passes. There are places that enthral and amaze me with their natural beauty and yet, in equal measure, I see things that make me baulk. 
Coming from many different and diverse backgrounds, social and intelligence levels, I feel that I can say the same for those people who reside here. 
On one hand I'm amused by the happy-go-lucky, relaxed attitude that runs through most aspects of life here, but get disheartened and irked by the stifling of potential in some for the benefit of others who may not deserve it and the sheer ineptness and apathy of certain individuals who seem to think that they are answerable to no-one.


Some of what I will blog on here will show the things that I like, but I will also warn you that there shall be articles that some folks or another may not like to read about.

To quote Henry Rollins "If you really want to hurt them and their children not yet born tell them the truth always."


All of my posts will, however, possess a common trait in that they are my opinions and mine alone. To be blunt, if you don't like what I have to say, you have two options: leave a comment for debate....or take yourself somewhere else. Do not post baseless tripe - it wastes your time, mine and that of genuine bloggers.


Over the past two decades, I have walked across deserts and glaciers, traversed mountain ranges, scaled canyons and spent time in some of the most violent, extreme and inhospitable places on the planet: all in a personal quest to see how the world turns and how it's people tick. 


There are good and bad sides to us all, and I have now seen enough of Oman to begin making comments about it.
The disclaimer is there, as is the guidance and conditions for partaking in any debate on this blog. 


To finish, I am looking forward to contributions from the plethora of bloggers I have been reading throughout my time here. Some of you I admire. Some of you I downright despise. All of you, however, should you wish to engage, are very welcome. 


Let's walk...