The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) is hosting the Omani Culinary Arts Festival at Al Haffa Beach in Salalah from August 22 to 26, during Dhofar Khareef 2024 events. The festival will feature live cooking demonstrations by top chefs, including Lulwa Altaanak, Nader Al Aisari, and Ahmed Al Saadi. Other activities include a children’s cooking corner, folk music performances, and various competitions. A farmers’ corner showcasing local products, authentic Omani cuisine from restaurants, and a section for gifts and souvenirs will also be available.
The aim of the Omani Culinary Arts Festival is to promote food tourism and culinary arts, particularly Omani cuisine, on a local and international level. Through events, gatherings, and forums focused on food tourism and culinary arts, the Ministry hopes to showcase Omani cuisine as a means of achieving economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The festival is part of the ‘Food Tourism and Culinary Arts’ programme, which focuses on positioning Omani culinary arts on the cultural tourism map, benefiting local communities, and creating job opportunities in the culinary industry.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism emphasizes the importance of developing tourism based on Oman’s comparative and competitive advantages. The Omani Culinary Arts Festival is a key component of this strategy, as food and drink have always played a central role in reflecting the cultural and civilizational diversity of societies. The growing global trend towards culinary tourism makes Oman’s rich cultural heritage and hospitable community ideal for showcasing and benefiting from food tourism and culinary arts. The Ministry is focused on training Omani chefs through global programs to enhance their skills and promote Omani cuisine worldwide.
The Food Tourism and Culinary Arts Programme aims to document the heritage, history, and traditions of Omani cuisine while innovating recipes and menus to cater to the evolving tastes of tourists. By enhancing competitiveness through supply chain innovation and fostering entrepreneurial opportunities in manufacturing, services, and tourism products, the programme aims to benefit local communities and promote innovative experiences in food tourism. The successful implementation of these initiatives requires collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders, tourism partners, and the involvement of the local community, enthusiasts, associations, and chefs.
Overall, the Omani Culinary Arts Festival is a significant event aimed at promoting Omani cuisine and enhancing food tourism and culinary arts in both the local and international markets. By showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Oman through food and drink, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism hopes to create economic, social, and environmental sustainability while creating job opportunities in the culinary industry. Through dedicated programs and initiatives, Oman aims to position itself as a leading destination for food tourism, showcasing its unique culinary traditions to the world.
