Muscat: Khasab Port in Musandam Governorate is one of the most important economic port contributes to enhancing tourism and commercial activity, especially by attracting major cruise ships. What made it an active commercial port, especially after the new expansions that the port witnessed during the last period, represented by the addition of a main breakwater, commercial berths, and the deepening of the port basin to accommodate the increasing traffic with markets and receiving cruise ships coming to the governorate.
Maryam bint Muhammad Al Shehi, Head of the Tourism Promotion Department at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in Musandam, said that the port witnesses the influx of many cruise ships with many tourists on board from different countries of the world, explaining that tourists coming to the governorate learn about the most prominent cultural monuments there, such as Khasab Fort and Al-Kamazir Castle. And benefit from the available tourist activities, including watching dolphins and taking sea or land trips in coordination with tourist offices.
She added in a statement to the Oman News Agency that the peak tourism period in Musandam Governorate begins in November of each year, noting that the number of tourists until December 2023, via giant ships, reached (76,156) tourists, and the number of ships during that period reached approximately ( 52) A giant ship.
She added that the port has allocated marketing outlets for productive families to display and sell their products to tourists arriving via cruise ships, indicating that there are many events, activities and festivals held in the governorate in cooperation between the Musandam Governor’s Office and various concerned authorities, including “Musandam Winter” and a craft heritage exhibition in addition to the marine festival.
For her part, Branda - one of the tourists coming on the MSC (Opera) cruise ship - said that this is her first visit to the Sultanate of Oman and she looks forward to getting to know and explore it up close.
She added that what distinguishes the Sultanate of Oman from other countries is its culture and that it has beautiful beaches.
In the same context, Nickel from Macedonia explained that this is his first visit to the Sultanate of Oman, expressing his hope to explore more and visit the most important cultural and tourist attractions there.