Al Jabal Al Akhadhar: Activities of Al Jabal Al Akhadhar Tourism Festival kicked off on Tuesday. The extravaganza is organized by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in cooperation with the Office of Governor of Al Dakhiliyah, Wali Office at Al Jabal Al Akhadhar and “Oman From Horseback Team”.
The five-day festival began with a mountain parade on horseback, which started from Alila Jabal Akhadhar. The cavalcade passed through the Municipality Park and proceeded along mountain passages onwards till camping sites. The 50-km march was conducted in two stages by 17 horse riders from Oman and abroad.
Shaikh Ali Mohammed al Busaidi, Acting Wali of Al Jabal Al Akhadhar, who was the chief guest at the opening ceremony, said that Al Jabal Al Akhadhar is the first tourism event of its kind. He expressed his appreciation for efforts exerted to organize the event. He hoped that it would become an annual pageant peculiar to the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhadhar.
Haitham Mohammed al Ghassani, Director General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said that Al Jabal Al Akhadhar Tourism Festival is a link in a series of activities being implemented by the ministry this year. “The series aims at enriching tourist destinations and highlighting domestic content, including key landmarks of tourism attraction in the Sultanate of Oman,” said Al Ghassani.
Al Jabal Al Akhadhar Tourism Festival comprises a diverse set of entertainment and tourism programmes and activities that appeal to young people and adults. It showcases the unique tourism features of Al Jabal Al Akhadhar and the experiences that a visitor to Al Jabal Al Akhadhar could enjoy, Al Ghassani noted. He added that the event explores promotional aspects and displays innovative initiatives to motivate domestic tourism and attract different segments of visitors.
Activities of special significance in Al Jabal Al Akhadhar Tourism Festival include promoting the pomegranate season and its importance to the local community. The festival sees the active participation of both public and private sectors.
Al Jabal Al Akhadhar Tourism Festival is undertaken by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism—in cooperation with government and private establishments—as a measure to stimulate tourism development in line with Oman Vision 2040 goals. These include enhancing social welfare and bringing about balanced economic development in the country’s governorates. The festival site is perched at a height of 3000 metres above sea level.
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