Symposium in Nizwa explores Omani Hajj routes, their cultural and tourism potential

Nizwa: The Literary Forum of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth today organized a scholarly symposium at the Nizwa Cultural Center in A’Dakhiliyah Governorate, titled "Omani Hajj Routes: Pathways, Memory, and Cultural Investment," with the participation of a number of researchers and specialists in the fields of history and cultural heritage.

The symposium is part of the Ministry's efforts to document oral history in the Sultanate of Oman, promote the national civilizational heritage, and highlight the Hajj routes as a key component of cultural memory and intangible heritage. It also emphasizes their historical significance in reflecting the Omani society's interaction with its religious and cultural environment.

The symposium featured two academic sessions that reviewed the overland and maritime routes, as well as the customs associated with the Hajj journey. The first session focused on social customs and the cultural investment potential of the Hajj routes, while the second session entitled "The Overland and Maritime Routes of the Omani Hajj".

The symposium aimed to highlight the Hajj routes as an integral part of the national memory, document their social dimensions, and foster scholarly debate on the potential for cultural and tourism investment in these routes. This aligns with sustainable development projects and enhances the presence of oral history initiatives within intangible cultural heritage activities.