SALALAH: For Dhofar tour guide Khulood al Shukaili, winter brings a different kind of visitor.
The Khareef crowds have thinned, the mist has lifted and the landscape is changing. Yet for many European travellers, this is precisely when Dhofar becomes attractive.
Al Shukaili, who responded to questions from the Observer, said Polish, Czech, Hungarian and Italian visitors are among the European nationalities she encounters most frequently during the winter months.
She estimates that Europeans account for about 90 per cent of her own winter clients — a figure reflecting her business rather than Dhofar’s tourism market as a whole. Most stay for about a week, while some remain longer to explore beyond the best-known attractions.
Nature, adventure and cultural experiences feature prominently, with visitors seeking mountain and wadi walks, beaches, frankincense sites, Omani food and trips into the Empty Quarter.
“What strikes them most is the great diversity of Dhofar’s nature,” Al Shukaili said. “Within short distances they can move between mountains, wadis, beaches, desert and frankincense groves.”
Many also value the tranquillity, safety and Omani hospitality, as well as what they see as the region’s natural and authentic character, she said.
This sets the winter season apart from Khareef. European visitors tend to favour walking, exploration, nature, adventure and closer contact with local culture, while Gulf visitors, particularly during Khareef, are more likely to seek family activities, restaurants, cafes and family-friendly destinations.
She cautioned against generalising about visitor spending or length of stay, which vary according to individual programmes and budgets.
The wider charter market, however, highlights the economic importance of European visitors. According to the latest completed figures published by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the 2024/25 charter season brought around 93,000 passengers to Oman on 588 flights, generating an estimated RO 30 million in economic returns from accommodation, transport and excursions.
Poland was the leading charter source market, followed by the Czech Republic and Italy. The figures cover Oman as a whole and do not provide a separate breakdown for Dhofar.
For local tourism businesses, what visitors do after arrival can be as important as how they reach the governorate. Two components of the ministry’s estimate — transport and excursions — directly involve tourism businesses beyond hotels.
She sees scope for further development through organised hiking trails, camping, eco-tourism, adventure activities and structured experiences centred on frankincense and Omani culture.
“The more varied the experiences and activities, the more reason the tourist has to stay longer and come back,” she said.
Visitors also point to practical improvements that could enhance the experience, including better toilets and rest areas at tourism sites, clearer directional signs and more information about individual attractions.
She said several clients felt their first visit was not enough to discover everything Dhofar had to offer. Some returned for the landscape and tranquillity, while others wanted to reconnect with local people they had met during their earlier trips.
“For me, that is a good sign that Dhofar is not a destination you discover in one visit,” she said. “It can offer a different experience each time.”
She sees winter as more than simply the quieter period following Khareef.
Khareef has its own identity, defined by greenery, mist and the monsoon atmosphere. Winter, by contrast, allows greater emphasis on mountain hiking, camping, beaches, desert excursions, frankincense sites and cultural experiences.
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