Participants during a session at the forum.
Doha, Qatar: The role of tourism in bringing people from across the region closer and fostering cultural exchange between the GCC and the world was the focus of the first ‘Oasis of Dialogue Forum’ in Oman. While many participants emphasized tourism’s contribution to promoting a shared Gulf identity, others voiced concerns about its impact on undermining the region’s identity.
Dubbed “Identity and Tourism in the GCC,” the forum was organized by QatarDebate Center and Oman Debate in partnership with Oman’s Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth and under the patronage of Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar.
The five-day event, which kicked off on January 5, welcomed a number of GCC officials and over 50 talented youth from various Gulf countries for two days of intense workshops, sessions, and panel discussions. On January 6, the region’s first-of-its-kind forum hosted a session on “National Identity in the GCC” moderated by A. Maryam Al Kharbooshi, Director of Cultural Identity at the Omani Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth.
“I was honoured to moderate this lively discussion in terms of knowledge and cultural exchange, with youth interacting, discussing, and asking questions with confidence,” Al Kharbooshi said.
Al Kharbooshi emphasized the key role the forum plays in developing students’ debating skills and empowering youth to express their opinions and ideas with confidence. The forum, she added, offered students the opportunity to grow, network, and expand their knowledge at the GCC level.
Musa Balushi, a communication expert who moderated a session on the “Analysis of Institutional Discourse”, said the forum, which welcomes youth from across the GCC, offers a valuable opportunity to gain insights on the topic of identity, as well as to enhance the Gulf’s cultural legacy. He also highlighted the importance of “leveraging institutional discourse to instill such values in youth’s everyday life.”
The forum featured a special session on “Identity and Tourism in the Gulf”, attended by prominent decision-makers and GCC officials, including Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, and Saad Al Rumaihi, President of the Qatar Press Center. The session was moderated by Kuwaiti journalist Dr. Ali bin Youssef Al Sanad.
Touching on the topic of tourism and Gulf identity, Qatari student Mohammed Al Buainain from Texas A&M University said recreational tourism may to some extent undermine the region’s identity with the revamp of tourist destinations to entertain foreign visitors.
