Muscat – As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the tourism sector and empower national talent, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) has launched a specialised tourist guide programme targeting Omanis proficient in Chinese or Spanish.
The initiative aims to keep pace with the rapid growth of international tourism markets and enhance the sultanate’s competitiveness as a global destination. It comes in response to the rising number of visitors from China, Spain and Latin American countries, with the ministry seeking to qualify Omani tourist guides who combine strong language skills with in-depth cultural knowledge.
According to MHT, the programme is designed to deliver high-quality visitor experiences that reflect Oman’s rich history, cultural diversity and authentic heritage. It also forms part of broader efforts to localise employment in the tourism sector and create new job opportunities for Omani youth.
The programme targets Omani jobseekers who are fluent in Chinese or Spanish and are able to commit full-time during the training period. Applicants must also pass assessment tests and personal interviews. The training process begins with online registration, followed by a qualifying assessment and interview, before progressing to specialised professional training. Successful candidates will be eligible to obtain an official tourist guiding licence upon completion.
MHT informed that the registration deadline is January 5, 2026 and urged eligible applicants to apply through https://shorturl.at/NiTtJ. Admissions will be based on clear selection criteria to ensure the recruitment of qualified candidates capable of representing Oman professionally to international visitors.
The training programme will focus on familiarising participants with key heritage and tourism sites across the sultanate, while developing communication skills, professional guiding techniques and ethical standards, contributing to a more engaging and informative visitor experience.
The initiative reflects the ministry’s commitment to developing national human resources and building competencies capable of engaging with diverse cultures, in line with Vision 2040, which seeks to position tourism as a key contributor to economic diversification and consolidate Oman’s presence on the global tourism map.
By the end of 2024, Oman had issued approximately 1,175 tourist guide licences, with English being the most commonly licensed language. Licences have also been granted for French, German, Italian, Russian and other languages, reflecting the growing diversity of tourists visiting the country.
Adventure tourism is another focus area for MHT, with 52 Omani guides now licensed for this segment, including six women.
Omani women are also increasingly joining the profession, with 101 female guides now licensed across various tourism sectors.
As Oman continues to expand its tourism sector, the role of trained and knowledgeable guides remains essential in delivering high-quality experiences and promoting the country as a leading travel destination.