Tuesday 17 / September / 2024
Muscat: Oman’s three-day weekend for the Holy Prophet Hijra Anniversary and the advent of the new Hijri year 1445 AH on July 20 has led to a ‘staycation’ boom.
The official holiday for employees of the public and private sectors has been declared on Thursday.
With the Sultanate having a Friday-Saturday weekend, it would give an opportunity to people to enjoy a three-day weekend starting from tomorrow.
A staycation refers to a holiday spent in one’s country of residence or one spent on day trips to local attractions, rather than abroad.
Many expats and locals are opting to spend their holidays in the Sultanate, instead of going abroad, providing a welcome boost to domestic tourism sector.
With clouds and light drizzle gathering over the mountains of Dhofar, Salalah remains a top choice for travellers in Oman. “It’s perfect time to visit Salalah,” commented a leading hotelier of Salalah.
The first activities of the Khareef Dhofar season 2023 were launched on Saturday evening.
Organised by the Dhofar Municipality, several activities have been planned at Salalah Park, Awqad and Al Saada Parks, as well as the Return of the Past in Al Hafah area and Attin Square in the Attin Plain for the citizens and the residents of Oman.
Indian expat Prakash said that he was leaving for Salalah on Thursday morning. “It’s Khareef season so Salalah remains a top choice for us. The city’s greenery and nature forces you to visit the place time and again,” he said.
Besides Salalah, the mountain range of Al Hajar Range, Jabal Akhtar is seeing an influx of occupancy rates at the hotels.
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. “The Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar is one of the important tourist destinations in the Sultanate of Oman throughout the year, due to its mild climate in summer and very cold in winter, and the availability of many hotels,” he said.
Oman’s geological diversity, rich landscapes, and unique heritage offer residents and visitors a wealth of variety to choose from.
Topping the list for many is certainly the pristine coastline, extending from the beaches of Musandam to Dhofar. There are plenty of resorts waiting to welcome travellers throughout the festive period. Earning a special place on the list of many beachgoers is the coast of Ras Al Jinz, where the rare Green Turtle is known to nest seasonally.
Joining the long list of coastal favourites are the historic strongholds dotting the Sultanate, which have continued to inspire people from around the world.
Chief among them are the stunning Bahla Fort, the largest in the country and a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, as well as Barka Fort.
