Winter tourism season begins in Dhofar Governorate

Muscat: With the beginning of the winter season in Dhofar Governorate, a number of the European tourist groups visited the governorate.

Dhofar Governorate began receiving European tourist groups after the arrival of the first direct flights for the winter tourism season from Czech and Slovakia to Salalah Airport, as part of the strategy of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in promoting the governorate as a tourist destination throughout the year.

Marwan bin Abdul Hakim Al Ghassani, Director of the Tourism Promotion Department at the Directorate General of Heritage and Tourism in the Governorate of Dhofar, said that the ministry, in cooperation with the partners of the tourism sector, is working to attract more charter flights from European countries and cruise ships.

Al Ghassani stressed the importance of the efforts made by the ministry, in cooperation with tourism partners, to create all conditions for the success of the tourist season.

"The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, in conjunction with the winter tourism season, will implement during the coming period a number of diverse tourism events and activities and many targeted and attractive programmes for local or international tourism, most notably the frankincense season in late November and the Empty Quarter Festival in the Niyabat of Al Shasr in the Wilayat of Thumrait, " Al Ghassani said.

Al Ghassani added that the governorate has elements of tourist attractions that enable it to become the preferred tourist destination for many tourists from different countries of the world, especially European tourists, because of its moderate weather throughout the year and environmental and terrain diversity. In addition to sandy beaches, mountains, valleys, deserts, caves and bays rich in aquatic life that attract divers.

The Director of the Tourism Promotion Department pointed out that the winter tourism season in the Governorate of Dhofar has become an essential element in the local economy and has a positive impact on the tourism sector directly and other sectors indirectly, whether through the growth of scheduled flights or charter flights to Salalah Airport, in addition to an increase in the movement of cruise ships through the Port of Salalah.

The winter tourism season in the Governorate of Dhofar constitutes a return to the tourism sector, which motivates the owners of hotels, camps and all tourist and service establishments to present events, activities and offers with the aim of attracting more tourists and stimulating the economic and commercial movement.

The Dhofar Governorate is rich in many archaeological sites registered in the World Heritage List (Al Baleed, Samharam, Al Shisr), the Museum of the Land of Frankincense, and historical forts in the wilayats of Taqah, Mirbat and Sadah.In addition to the traditional markets, nature reserves, water springs, valleys and caves scattered throughout the governorate, in addition to the activity of adventure tourism, various marine sports activities, and the gold and silver market.

 The governorate is also rich in many natural reserves such as the Jabal Samhan Reserve, the Wadi Dawkah Reserve for frankincense trees, and the Al-Akhwar Reserves that extend on the coast of governorate.

Wildlife and large numbers of migratory and visiting birds are also spread in Dhofar governorate, as well as adventure tourism through free walking, mountain climbing, mountain bikes, and sand challenge with four-wheel drive vehicles.In addition to practicing all kinds of marine sports activities, diving, watching coral reefs, and other diverse tourist activities such as marine sports and watching dolphins, whales and birds.