Oman Daily Observer: Oman Daily Observer
14 December 2012 - Oman Daily Observer
The National Ferries Company (NFC), a significant contributor to the maritime transport infrastructure and development in the Sultanate, has won the World Sustainable Tourism Award, notching up a new accomplishment on behalf of the Sultanate. The exceptional challenges of the long coastline of the Sultanate, which is about 3,165 km long, make this ferry service a necessity for the population and tourists alike as it provides vital links between ports and save travelling time. On passage between destinations, passengers get to enjoy the picturesque and majestic coastline of the country by relaxing in the high comfortable seats and first class service on board.
The prize awarded by World Travel Awards (WTA) was received by Ghazi bin Abdullah al Zedjali, NFC Head of Marketing and Communications at Grand Final Gala Ceremony held in India on December 12. NFC, owned by the Sultanate government, won the prize as a result of its commitment to global standards in place to achieve the goals of sustainable tourism, and its emphasis on the need to support and develop the local tourism sector, based on the principles of environment-friendly processes.
Graham Cooke, President of WTA, said that NFC deserves the award, thanks to its permanent commitment to the highest standards in employment, hospitality and social responsibility, in addition to the successful localisation of posts associated with shipping, compared with the short period of operations of the company, and the obvious contribution to national development in general, and the development of shipping in particular, adding that the company has become a milestone in the global shipping, especially after winning the Middle East responsible tourism award in April.
On this occasion, Mahdi bin Mohamed al Abdawani, CEO of NFC, said that this world achievement is recorded for the Sultanate in the first place, and we congratulate His Majesty Sultan Qaboos for his wise vision represented in the establishment of a national company to develop the maritime transport sector, with the latest fleet, so as to achieve the objectives of the comprehensive development of the Sultanate, adding that the company, since inception of its operation in 2008, has provided many job opportunities for the Omani youth and achieved 63 per cent Omanisation in various technical and administrative posts.
He added that 32,000 passengers travelled on board NFC ferries between January and November 2012, a 81 per cent rise, and shipped till the end of November 2012 about 5,223 vehicles, compared to 2,302 vehicles for the same period in 2011.
Ghazi bin Abdullah al Zedjali said that the sustainable tourism award affirms that the Sultanate has a clear vision in the area of maritime transport infrastructure, and NFC translates this by providing the highest shipping techniques in the service of coastal communities, especially smaller ones, affirming its full commitment to social responsibility, part of the company’s development policies, which come on top of its priorities. — ONA
The prize awarded by World Travel Awards (WTA) was received by Ghazi bin Abdullah al Zedjali, NFC Head of Marketing and Communications at Grand Final Gala Ceremony held in India on December 12. NFC, owned by the Sultanate government, won the prize as a result of its commitment to global standards in place to achieve the goals of sustainable tourism, and its emphasis on the need to support and develop the local tourism sector, based on the principles of environment-friendly processes.
Graham Cooke, President of WTA, said that NFC deserves the award, thanks to its permanent commitment to the highest standards in employment, hospitality and social responsibility, in addition to the successful localisation of posts associated with shipping, compared with the short period of operations of the company, and the obvious contribution to national development in general, and the development of shipping in particular, adding that the company has become a milestone in the global shipping, especially after winning the Middle East responsible tourism award in April.
On this occasion, Mahdi bin Mohamed al Abdawani, CEO of NFC, said that this world achievement is recorded for the Sultanate in the first place, and we congratulate His Majesty Sultan Qaboos for his wise vision represented in the establishment of a national company to develop the maritime transport sector, with the latest fleet, so as to achieve the objectives of the comprehensive development of the Sultanate, adding that the company, since inception of its operation in 2008, has provided many job opportunities for the Omani youth and achieved 63 per cent Omanisation in various technical and administrative posts.
He added that 32,000 passengers travelled on board NFC ferries between January and November 2012, a 81 per cent rise, and shipped till the end of November 2012 about 5,223 vehicles, compared to 2,302 vehicles for the same period in 2011.
Ghazi bin Abdullah al Zedjali said that the sustainable tourism award affirms that the Sultanate has a clear vision in the area of maritime transport infrastructure, and NFC translates this by providing the highest shipping techniques in the service of coastal communities, especially smaller ones, affirming its full commitment to social responsibility, part of the company’s development policies, which come on top of its priorities. — ONA
Source: Oman Daily Observer
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