Friday 26 / April / 2024
Muscat: Citizens and expatriates across the Sultanate of Oman had a whale of a time spending their long Eid-Al Fitr holidays rejuvenating themselves physically and mentally to get back to work after the long break.
With the government announcing a five-day holiday, starting from April 20 until April 24, many preferred staycations rather than going outside the country.
Hotel industry executives told Times of Oman that occupancy rates in most of the hotels reached 100 per cent during this long weekend. “There are no rooms available at Masirah Island Resort, Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, Atana Stay Al Ashkhara,” said the hotel’s area general manager, Vijay Handa.
Arup Singh Deo, Director of Operations and Projects, Al Nahda Hotels & Resorts, said long weekends in Oman are always a blessing for the hotels as they boost domestic tourism.
“Our hotels remain fully occupied during all long weekends. Although travelling abroad has increased, staycations have also gone up in the recent months,” he said.
Expats living in Oman said that they desperately look forward to Eid holidays as it rejuvenates them. “Work sometimes is very stressful, though some people don’t realise it,” Indian expat Prakash said.
“We are always busy. With the onset of online culture, the work has moved into our living rooms, so my family and I were really looking forward to this long break. It’s been great to disconnect from work for a while and reconnect with the family at home. We didn’t go out of the country, but just relaxed and enjoyed right here in Muscat.”
“We did go out for brunch and dinner a couple of times as there were exciting offers that we couldn’t miss. After a few relaxing evenings at the beach, it was great for my wife as well, as she normally does the shopping when I am at work, but this offered her some time to relax together,” he added.
Mohammad, an Indian expat, went to India to surprise his family during Eid. “My family had no idea that I was coming,” he told the Times of Oman. “On the morning of my arrival, which was Thursday, my friends at home told my mother some consignment had arrived for her and that they were going to collect it at the airport. My mother had no inkling what it was, and she went about doing her chores.”
“When she opened the door after I rang the bell, she was amazed to see me,” added Mohammad. “She didn’t know that Eid holidays are long in Oman unlike India where it is mostly for one or two days. She thought I was here for a short break but when I told her that I was going to be there for almost a week, she jumped in excitement, and started making special dishes for me. My father hadn’t even seen half of those dishes in his entire life.”
As the UAE had an even smaller break, Ramesh Kumar, another Indian expat, came from Dubai to spend Eid holidays here in Oman with his friends. “Of course, we don’t get as many days off in the UAE as in Oman, but I decided to add in a few days from my annual leave and come here to see my friends,” said Ramesh, who grew up and did his schooling here, before leaving for Dubai.
“Dubai is just a place to work for me but Oman is a home for me. I have so many fond memories here, so Oman will always hold a special place in my heart, no matter where I go.”
“I took my family to Al Ashkara, a tourist hotspot known for its cool climate and scenic beauty. The region witnesses a massive influx of tourists from within and outside the Sultanate as temperatures here hover between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius.”
“It was so cool there, with temperatures of around 26 degrees Celsius and its beaches and sand dunes are fascinating. Oman is such a lovely country and I am glad I came here for Eid with my friend, Suresh Babu,” said Harpreet Singh, who stayed at Atana Stay Al Ashkhara.
Facing the beachfront, Atana Stay Al Ashkara offers a rare pearl of hospitality in the country, where style and elegance are combined with luxury and a touch of Arabia.
Enjoy award-winning cuisine, a unique dining experience and serene lush green views with detailed personalised service at the beach hotel.
Families in Oman were definitely happy to enjoy the holidays, but there was one aspect that many craved for was that they wanted a few more days of break to revitalize themselves.
Young kids were happy that they did not have to wake up early in the morning for school. Mothers were happy, feeling relieved for not making early breakfast and preparing their kids for school. “Every morning, the school bus comes to pick him up at seven, so he needs to be up by six, then I need to iron his clothes, and his mother has to make his lunch; this time there was nothing of the sort, so all of us could relax. I am not looking forward to waking him up on Monday, because that means I too have to wake up early,” an expat said.
However, many parents whose children are in 10th and 1th standards, did not deviate from the normal routine. They put more pressure on their wards for study citing board and engineering/ medical exams fear.
“The exams are not far away, and I thought I would make my daughter sit and study, but that didn’t happen at all,” a frustrated mother said.
“Everyone wants to play and go out and enjoy themselves. There’s still some time left before the exams begin so my daughter can study after the schools reopen.”
