Spotlight: Ready for winter tourism?

Tourist landmarks in the Sultanate of Oman attract a large number of domestic and international visitors from Europe and the Arab Gulf states every winter season because winter here is mild, bright and sunny.

After closure due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic for about two years, the country has started receiving international flights from different countries thanks to the stability in the epidemiological situation. The latest health indicators suggest a few cases and the situation under control.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported 50 new cases in 3 days, while no deaths were recorded during the period.

Winter tourism in the country starts in October and continues till May. It generates a great return on the tourism sector directly and other sectors indirectly. Overall, tourism boosts the local economy through direct tourist flights coming from around the world to the country’s airports. Therefore, this sector provides an added economic value to the country and harmonises with the desired revitalisation goals of the economic and commercial movement.

RECOVERY PLAN

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism had developed a comprehensive recovery plan to face the repercussions of the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic, which included stimulating and enabling international tourism by attracting charter flights in cooperation and coordination with tourism partners.

The plan included intensifying promotional efforts for the governorates in general and the Governorate of Dhofar in particular as an ideal tourist destination throughout the year. During the winter season, the governorate annually receives tourist groups from Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and other European countries, according to Marwan bin Abdulhakim al Ghassani, Director of Tourism Promotion Department.

The Sultanate of Oman has many distinct tourism potentials because of the rich biodiversity of the plains, mountains, uplands and coasts, giving it a bright, warm sun in winter in the valleys and metropolises. Additionally, deserts and coastal areas have the elements of desert safari and water sports on the pristine beaches, for which the country is known globally.

ACTIVITIES

What activities can a winter tourist do in the Sultanate of Oman?

A visitor to the country can practise different activities in the winter season. For hikers, it has mountains with variety; there are places for walking and trekking between the valleys or swimming in pools of water between the mountains, such as Wadi Bani Khalid.

Al Sharqiyah is a place for those who like kayaking. Living there amid golden sands is a fulfilment in itself. Others may enjoy touring around the hot springs like Ain Al Kasfah or Ain Al Thawarah . It is better if a tourist carries with him trip tools, including camping tools, cooking and lighting kits, in case he does not prefer staying in a hotel.

“Many representatives of tourism companies or tour guides bring tourists from ships anchored at the port via buses to the Muttrah market for the purpose of getting to know the Omani heritage products. They buy many of these goods and carry them with them when they return to their countries. Foreign tourists mostly go for Omani daggers, swords and silver made locally, especially the old ones,” says one of the vendors in the Muttrah souq.