Thursday 25 / April / 2024
MUSCAT: With temperatures sizzling to plus 40 degrees Celsius across the Sultanate of Oman, one of the few places that can be an ideal getaway from the scorching summer is the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah.
The wilayat has been receiving hundreds of visitors in recent times, be it the citizens, residents or foreign tourists as they flock to enjoy the pleasant weather conditions up the mountains.
According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), a total number of 57,867 visitors, including 16,476 Omanis visited the wilayat over the past five months.
One of the reasons for a steady stream of visitors has been rains during the summer in the wilayat, which had made the destination attractive and appealing with comparatively cooler weather conditions. The enhanced tourism facilities in the wilayat includes three to five star hotels, guesthouses and other lodging options.
Ali bin Mohammed Al Busaidi, Deputy Wali of the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar said: “The wilayat has received great attention from the government and seen a remarkable development in various fields including tourism. We are currently receiving a steady flow of tourists from within and outside the Sultanate of Oman.”
He added: “We plan to hold the Al Jabal Al Akhdar Festival in August, which will feature various activities for tourists.”
Ali bin Saif Al Shukaili, Assistant Director of the Directorate of Heritage and Tourism in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate said: “The ministry is intensifying its field visits to monitor the level of services offered by the hotel establishments in Al Jabal Al Akhdar.”
He added: “At present, the wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar offers 734 rooms in 13 hotels including three to five star resorts, hotels and guesthouses. There are two hotels under construction, which are expected to be completed by the end of the current year. Once completed, there would be an addition of 180 rooms.”
He explained that there are two tourism facilities under construction in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, with investment from the private sector.
He added that the ministry has doubled its interest in the Green Mountain by holding different tourism and promotional activities, including the Green Mountain Festival in its first edition in August 2022 in partnership with Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, indicating that the ministry is offering many sites in the state for investment in tourism by the private sector in order to boost job opportunities and provide good services that meet the needs of tourists.
Tourist activities in the Green Mountain vary during the summer, such as mountain climbing, hiking, visiting caves and ancient villages, among others. - With ONA inputs
