(eTurboNews) An international conference on tourism and architecture will be organized by the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Tourism, from February 5 to 8.
                               
 The conference, titled 'Built Environments for Sustainable Tourism (BEST) - Sustainability, Cultural Diversity and Destination Image', will be held in conjunction with the UNESCO and the World Tourism Organisation (WTO).

Mohsin bin Khamis Al Baloushi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of Oman, said the conference, which will be organised for the first time in the region, will examine case studies of successful models in the sector of tourism architecture among other objectives.

The conference will specifically examine case studies of tourism projects all over the world, ranging in scale from eco-lodges to regional master plans for mass tourism, that have successfully incorporated principles of sustainability in all elements of their physical and architectural design.
                               

 The conference will also identify principles, guidelines and specific criteria that can be applied to the design of resorts, hotels and other tourism infrastructure in order to guarantee the authenticity of the tourism offer in the region and its long term sustainability, as well as to maintain the distinctive character of cities, vernacular architecture, and local communities.
                               
 The event hopes to highlight examples of best architectural and design practices where respect for the principles of sustainability and cultural diversity have led to commercial success for the private sector.
                               
                                Also, identify ways and means to disseminate such principles, guidelines and criteria among the architectural professionals, tourism planners and developers.
                               
                                Another objective is to find ways to encourage national and local government to undertake the required political, legislative changes and administrative systems with a view to ensure the realization of the above principles in all tourism development programs and projects.  And finally, the conference is hoping to enhance the quality of the built environment in Oman in a way that contributes to the issues of sustainability, cultural diversity and to the creation of a favorable destination image of the country.

Baloushi said the Sultanate will not present a paper at the conference but will arrange field trips to sites of architectural significance. He said the ministry will organize a seminar on modern methods of architecture jointly with the WTO before the start of the conference for those who are working in engineering offices, tourism companies and others.   Baloushi said the Ministry of Tourism plans to establish a conference centre and that a specialist consultancy company has already been awarded the center designing.

The conference aims at examining among many other  topics lined for discussions, case studies of tourism projects across the globe, ranging in scale from eco-resorts to regional master plans for mass tourism, identify principles, guidelines and criteria that can be applied to design of resorts, hotels and other tourism-related infrastructure in order guarantee sustainability.

The main themes of the three-day conference are heritage and adaptive  re-use for tourism purposes, design and construction of modern tourism facilities and urban and local regeneration through sustainable tourism.