The Somali Regional State Culture and Tourism Bureau is the main public institution responsible for protecting, developing, promoting, and sustainably managing the region’s cultural heritage and tourism resources. Its central mandate is to preserve the rich cultural identity of the Somali people while using tourism as a key driver of socio-economic development, employment creation, and regional integration. To achieve this, the Bureau carries out regulatory, developmental, coordinative, and promotional functions.

A core responsibility of the Bureau is the protection and preservation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. This includes identifying, documenting, conserving, and restoring historical sites, monuments, museums, artifacts, and cultural landscapes, as well as safeguarding oral traditions, dialects, folklore, performing arts, visual arts, handcrafts, rituals, customs, indigenous knowledge and languages. Through research, documentation, indigenous knowledge transfer and awareness programs, the Bureau ensures the transmission of cultural values across generations and prevents cultural erosion.

The Bureau also leads the development and promotion of tourism in the region by identifying and developing tourist attractions, preparing tourism development plans, improving infrastructure, and enhancing service quality. It regulates and licenses tourism services, sets standards for service providers, and ensures compliance through inspection and supervision. In addition, it promotes the region through cultural events, exhibitions, media campaigns, and partnerships to attract tourists and investors.

Furthermore, the Bureau supports cultural creativity and arts development by assisting artists and cultural institutions, establishing cultural centers and museums, and promoting cultural industries. It also undertakes policy formulation, planning, coordination, research, and monitoring and evaluation to ensure effective implementation and evidence-based decision-making. Overall, through its comprehensive mandate, the Bureau plays a vital role in cultural preservation, tourism growth, and sustainable development in the Somali Regional State.