Muscat: The Governorate of Dhofar, the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhadhar and areas overlooking the Arabian Sea figure high in the Sultanate of Oman’s summer tourism season.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has plans in place to attract tourists to these venues due to their moderate weather that appeals to tourists from different countries of the world.
The Sultanate of Oman is distinguished for its topographical diversity—which ranges from hills to verdant planes where tourists are offered a variety of lodgings from which they can use mountain paths to explore the famous Jabal Shams or Al Jabal Al Akhadhar, known for their fruit trees, flower beds and rosewater industries.
The eastern coast comes in the path of cool monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea, and these include Ras Al Hadd and Ras Al Jiniz. Interesting features here include the turtle reserves, the beaches of Al Ashkhara, the Island of Masirah and the beaches of Al Wusta Governorate.
The wadis (valleys) are yet another wonderful feature of Omani tourism sites that are regularly visited by families seeking enjoyment in the clear water of the dells.
The country’s pristine environment also embraces a selection of farming towns that are usually cooler than any other area. Farming towns, like Wakkan and Bilad Seit, are rich in greenery and groundwater.
The Governorate of Dhofar boasts an exotic season named Al Khareef (monsoon), which lasts from June 21 to September 21 every year. As soon as the monsoon winds begin to blow, the whole governorate springs to life, with the hills and dells turning green and foggy. The cool weather attracts tourists to Dhofar from all over the globe.
Haitham Mohammed al Ghassani, Director-General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said that the ministry, hosts a number of tourism events throughout the year. In the first half of this year, the ministry organized three events: “The Ironman Championship”, “Sohar Food Festival” (that attracted 45,000 visitors) and a heritage festival in the Wilayat of Nizwa, Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah, Al Ghassani added.
Al Ghassani told Oman News Agency (ONA) that, as part of events for the second half of this year, the ministry is planning “Al Jabal Al Akhadhar Festival” in August (to coincide with the pomegranate harvest season), the “Ironman Championship” in September, the “Luban Festival” in Dhofar Governorate in October and the 2nd edition of the “Rub-el-Khali Festival” early next year (2023).
Meanwhile, a number of companies have launched their exclusive tourism programmes, among them outdoor activities like mountain climbing, diving, sea cruises, countryside treks and beach going trips.
The data issued by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism indicate that the total number of visitors to ponds in Wadi Bani Khalid, the Governorate of North Al Sharqiyah, reached 33,046 by the end of April 2022. Of those, 9,878 visitors were Omani.
The number of visitors to Al Jabal Al Akhadhar (the Green Mountain) by the end of April 2022 reached 39,025, of those 12,876 were Omani. Visitors to castles and forts in Oman by the end of 2021 reached 108,871.
As many as 12,858 visitors visited Al Dimaniyat Islands Nature Reserve received from January to April 2022. The number of visitors to the organisms and fungi sanctuary at Al Wusta reached 293 by the end of May 2022.
Al Ansab Wetlands at the Governorate of Muscat saw 63 visitors by the end of May 2022.
Moreover, the number of visitors to Al Hoota Cave by the end of May 2022 reached 21,939. Visitors to the turtles reserve stood at 6,181 by the end of April 2022.
The number of visitors to Al Qurum Nature Reserve by the end of 2021 reached 1,132.
Meanwhile, as many as 766,772 visitors went to the Monsoon (Khareef) season in Dhofar during 2019.
