Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Marine tourism readies for summer

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Tourism companies organising cruises with a variety of packages for recreational activities and services


In view of the huge turnout for marine tourism during winter, Muscat is gearing up for the summer season with tourism companies have started offering attractive packages. The coasts of Muscat have become a destination of those who want to enjoy swimming and deep and shallow diving, snorkelling as well as for bird watching, dolphin watching and enjoying the sunrise in the serene environment in camps.


These tours are organised in particular time mostly in winter when the weather is exceptional in Muscat. The tours vary in length. The tour groups are organised for two hours to one full day depending on the type of flight, its time or their number.


The peak time for marine tourism in the Sultanate is between October and April every year.


As for diving, the Sultanate is one of the most famous diving destinations in the region. Due to its diverse marine life and the vast choice of beaches, islands, bays and caves.


The most important diving areas around the capital Muscat are Al Khairan, Al Fahl Island, Dimaniyat Islands, Bay of Al Maqbra in Old Muscat and Al Jissah. Each of these sites have at least 11 different diving spots, each with its own diversity.


Marine activities also contain watching dolphins a few kilometres from the Muscat coast.


Omani whales and dolphins are of about 20 species and the most common dolphins are Sabnar dolphins. There is large population of up to several hundred dolphins living in the waters around Muscat.


To enjoy these elements, a number of tourism companies organise a number of tours. Saeed bin Habib al Rahbi, the owner of Star Sea Tourism Company, said that the demand for marine tourism in the province of Muscat was huge, particularly in the winter season. The company is preparing for the summer season as well by offering huge reductions on its offers of packages to encourage tourism this season. Mohammed bin Saeed al Jardani, Chairman of Al Ainain Marine Tourism Company, said that the company was organising flights to the Khairan and Dimaniyat Islands as well as sunset and night tours on the floating restaurant in Muttrah.


He said that the marine tourism had a huge demand in the winter season particularly by Omani citizens. The company is unique due to its first floating restaurant in the Sultanate which had huge turnout during the entire season. This is why the prices were reduced to attract Omanis and residents. Efforts are being made to attract the larger segment of Omani society.


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