One of Oman’s natural wonders, the Khareef Salalah has been a fascination for people not from other parts of the Sultanate of Oman alone, but from the region and from across the continents who rush to the balmy Dhofar to drench in the drizzle and bask in the sunlight.
While the number of visitors to the green mountains of Dhofar is on the rise, a perennial question being raised is the pollution that some of the reckless visitors cause to the environment.
On a quick drive around, one would spot abandoned plastic bags, empty chips covers, food waste, and above all, charcoal waste which some outdoor loving and holidaymakers would leave blazing.
“In Oman, littering is a punishable offence and visitors to various holiday spots have been continuously urged to keep aloof from dumping waste in public and avoid burning charcoal at the beaches and parks,” Mohammed al Azeri, an environmentalist and a volunteer of various clean-up campaigns, said.
Oman’s environmental diversity ranges from its warm seas and pristine underwater reefs to its rugged mountains and stark deserts.
“Oman is blessed with immense natural beauty, a rich cultural heritage and incredible biodiversity. The public should be inspired to actively participate in the protection of Oman’s natural heritage,” said Omar al Riyami, Board Member, Environmental Society of Oman (ESO).
As the country’s only environmental non-profit organisation, ESO has spent the last 18 years working to protect Oman’s environment through research, education, advocacy and conservation.
International media has lauded the heterogeneous landscapes which are breath-taking and the initiatives that yield positive results in their respective mediums and highlighted the cleanliness and hygiene that people generally follow.
However, such unprecedented actions that cast a shadow on Oman’s beauty is highly deplorable, says Greg Stevan, a senior manager in hospitality.
“It’s the positive and vibrant images that a country should leave in visitors’ minds and not the eyesore which will inadvertently deter the tourists from visiting the place again. Hence, both citizens and expatriates need to be united in keeping our surroundings neat and clean,” adds Stevan.
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