2018-阿曼国家绿色出口回顾（英文版）

Summary of the National Green Export Review of Oman: Tourism, Dates and Fish

Core Content

The National Green Export Review (NGER) of Oman focuses on three key sectors—tourism, fisheries, and palm date production—which are identified as promising green sectors with potential for sustainable development and economic diversification. These sectors are evaluated for their employment creation, contribution to GDP, and linkages with each other to promote a mutually supportive green export strategy.

Main Points

1. Tourism Sector

• Growth and Contribution:

  • The tourism sector is growing rapidly and is expected to contribute 2.8% of GDP in 2016.
  • Direct added value of tourism rose from RO 505 million (US$ 1.3 billion) in 2009 to RO 719 million (US$ 1.8 billion) in 2017.
  • Tourism is projected to grow significantly, reaching 18th rank globally in terms of growth between 2018 and 2028.
  • Inbound tourism visitors increased steadily from 2012 to 2017, surpassing 3 million.

• Tourist Demographics:

  • 48% of tourists in 2016 came from GCC countries, including Omanis abroad.
  • 17% from other Asian countries (India, Pakistan, Philippines).
  • 7.5% from the United Kingdom and Germany in 2017.

• Tourism Strategy:

  • The Oman Tourism Strategy (OTS), 2016–2040, aims to make Oman a top destination for vacations, discovery, and meetings by 2040.
  • The strategy emphasizes sustainability, cultural preservation, and authentic experiences.
  • Key tourism experiences include traditional boat trips, visits to Omani villages, turtle watching, date plantation visits, and date product activities.

2. Date Sector

• Production Overview:

  • Dates are the main agricultural crop in Oman, representing 80% of all fruit production and 50% of agricultural land.
  • In 2016, Oman was the 9th largest producer globally, with a production of 350,000 tons.
  • There are 7 million date palm trees, with 75% of production coming from 10 cultivars.

• Market Position:

  • 85% of global date production is consumed locally, with only a few countries (e.g., Tunisia, Israel) specializing in exports.
  • In 2016, Oman's date exports reached US$ 12.6 million, with India, Somalia, and UAE accounting for 93% of the total.
  • Exports to China, Jordan, and the UK showed promising growth between 2014 and 2016.

• Marketing Challenges:

  • The marketing system is traditional, and compliance with GSO quality standards is limited.
  • There is a lack of coordination between production, storage, packaging, processing, and transportation.
  • Packaging and product diversification are areas needing improvement.

• Sustainable Production and Value Addition:

  • Biotic factors like Dubas bugs and red palm weevil affect date quality and yield.
  • Tissue culture and molecular techniques are being used to develop superior cultivars.
  • Modern orchard layouts and mechanization are crucial for sustainable production.
  • Organic date production is gaining traction, with 38 hectares dedicated to it in 2016.
  • Value-added products such as date syrup, sugar, paste, and confectionery could be developed.

• SWOT Analysis:

  • Strengths: Sustainable production systems, good infrastructure, government support, community involvement.
  • Weaknesses: Lack of innovation, poor coordination, reliance on traditional markets, high date waste, limited product diversification.
  • Opportunities: Date as a thrust product in government-led export strategy, strong linkages with tourism, potential for new varieties in foreign markets.
  • Threats: Resistance to new techniques, international competition, sanitation and disease risks.

3. Fisheries Sector

• Production and Exports:

  • In 2016, Oman's total fish catch reached 270,000 tons, valued at RO 204 million (US$ 675 million).
  • Fish exports reached US$ 170 million in 2016.
  • Between 2000 and 2016, total fish catch increased by 131%, and the value of exports rose by US$ 144 million.

• Regional Contributions:

  • Al Sharqia and Al Batinah were the top regions for large pelagic fish catch (24% and 21.7%, respectively).
  • Dhofar and Muscat were the top regions for demersal fish (30% and 15%, respectively).

• Export Destinations:

  • Vietnam, UAE, and Saudi Arabia are the top three export markets for Omani fish, each with annual imports above US$ 10 million.
  • Other significant markets include Brazil, China, Yemen, and Qatar, Thailand, France, Italy, and the US.
  • Export rate of fish and fish products ranged from 49% to 61% of total catch between 2006 and 2016.

• Contribution to GDP:

  • Fisheries contributed 0.39–0.7% to GDP from 2001 to 2015.
  • They accounted for 37.8% of the total agriculture added value, peaking at 43.6% in 2015.

• Legal and Investment Framework:

  • The Law of the Sea (1982) and other regulations have supported the development of artisanal and commercial fisheries.
  • The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has developed standards and specifications for investment projects.
  • Fish processing plants are operational, using modern technology for sorting, cutting, and packaging.

• SWOT Analysis:

  • Strengths: High-quality fish, strong domestic demand, government support.
  • Weaknesses: Dominance of small-scale fishing, limited processing capabilities.
  • Opportunities: Development of value-added fish products, integration with tourism activities.
  • Threats: International competition, disease and sanitation risks.

4. Linkages Between Sectors

• The NGER identified mutual synergies between tourism, fisheries, and the date sector.
• Tourism can promote fish and date products through experiential activities such as boat trips, market visits, and date farm tours.
• Fisheries and date sectors can benefit from tourism-driven demand and cultural promotion.
• A multisectoral collaboration platform is proposed to enhance cross-sectoral cooperation, technical assistance, and local supply chains for hotels and touristic activities.
• Agritourism and eco-tourism are seen as key opportunities to leverage cultural and environmental assets for green export promotion.

Key Information

• NGER Project: Initiated in 2015 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) and UNCTAD, it aims to promote green production and export in Oman.
• Priority Sectors: Tourism, fisheries, and palm date production were selected as green sectors with strong socioeconomic and environmental potential.
• Action Plan: Based on NGER consultations, an action plan was developed to foster linkages between the three sectors, focusing on:
  • Promoting agritourism through farm visits and cultural activities.
  • Integrating tourism into fishing communities via traditional boat trips and market visits.
  • Establishing a public-private collaboration platform for sectoral cooperation and technical support.

Conclusion

The NGER highlights the potential for sustainable development through the integration of tourism, fisheries, and date sectors. It emphasizes the need for modernization, value addition, and policy coordination to enhance the economic and environmental benefits of these sectors. The action plan proposed by the NGER is a step towards green export growth and economic diversification in Oman.