Pandemic or no pandemic, people in the region have reason to remember Salalah, particularly during the Khareef season. The contrast in the temperature between most places and Salalah substantiates their reason. Salalah has temperatures between 26-28 degrees for the last two weeks or so. In comparison, most other places in the GCC range between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius this time around.
Not authentic, but this thought is prevalent among many in the GCC that by taking both the doses of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine, they may be allowed to enter Salalah to beat the heat.
Rashid from Abu Dhabi dropped a message to his friend Awad asking about Salalah weather. On hearing from Awad that the situation for Khareef is building up, Rashid announced, “I have also taken both the doses of Coronavirus vaccine, so that does not make any hindrance for me to come to Salalah.”
And he confided to Awad that many of his friends were taking vaccines keeping Salalah in mind.
“They were very regular to Salalah during Khareef, pre-pandemic. But, unfortunately, last year they could not come because the situation was alarming. For them, this is year; there is hope due to the availability of vaccines. And they are going for it, exclusively for Salalah. They don’t want to miss staying in Salalah during the monsoon season, which is a rare phenomenon in the GCC,” Awad said.
However, the gentleman from Taqah (Awad) is surprised and more proud about Salalah, which till now was known only for greenery, vegetation, and tourism. “But it will become a reason to motivate people for a bigger cause like a vaccination against the pandemic, I never thought of,” he said.
The hoteliers in Salalah are also thinking on the same lines. They have hope on vaccination that can assure the authorities to open tourism doors in a restricted manner.
“If the situation allows people to come to Salalah, it would be a deal for them because good accommodations would be available at far cheaper rates. Still, we are keeping our fingers crossed due to the pandemic situation,” said a hotel duty manager in Salalah.
Salalah hotels are assuring all possible care for the visitors and keeping their properties ready for bulk arrivals even at short notices.
They also have hopes for vaccination. They expect that the immunisation would work as a catalyst for them, as a possible solution to any relaxation in movements shortly would depend on vaccination.
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