Salalah gears up to welcome tourists

Muscat: After Cyclone Mekunu hit the Governorate of Dhofar on May 26, bringing some services to a halt, local officials have now announced that it’s business as usual for the travel industry, with all the main roads now restored and the airport working normally.
The cyclone may have caused some damage to the Dhofar coastline, but it also brought better waterfalls and greenery, which will actually help boost tourism, especially at a time when the region gets set to welcome its famous Khareef season.
Now that things are returning to normal, all hotels including Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara are busy preparing for what they hope to be a busy summer, starting with the Eid holiday in less than two weeks.
James Hewitson, General Manager at Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, said: “The damage to the resort was mainly caused by rain entering the electrical systems and the wind uprooting quite a bit of the landscaping, but the team has been doing an amazing job getting the resort cleaned up. We are now operating as normal and look forward to receiving guests over the coming Eid holidays and the Khareef season.”
“The rain has filled up the wadis, leaving behind waterfalls, something not seen since 2011,” he said, adding, “The monsoon season has arrived in India earlier than expected and, with a good amount of rain, we expect this trend to follow through to Salalah. We can’t wait to create an amazing Khareef experience for all the tourists visiting from June to September.”
After a hard couple of weeks following Cyclone Mekunu, the people of Dhofar look forward to showing off the beauty of their region and their unrivalled hospitality.”