SALALAH, Aug 14 - Announcement of Eid al Adha holidays has brought more cheer among the prospective visitors, hospitality operators, furnished apartment owners and restaurant owners. Same is the situation with the hypermarkets and supermarkets as for all of them the long Eid holidays mean a lot. People generally stay put in their own places during short holidays and explore places around the city, but nine days is really good for them to plan properly.
Salalah is in their priority list due to the closest possible cool location and hassle free access for Omanis, GCC nationals and expatriates living over there. Since holidays in all the GCC countries are in the same duration, plus-minus one or two days, Salalah is expecting huge inflow of people from all these countries. The booking registers of the city hotels are testifying the rush Salalah is going to witness during the Eid holidays.
“The announcement of the Eid holidays in the Sultanate and the Middle East has brought about an increased demand for rooms in our hotel. Demand for hotel rooms is picking up and the busiest are from August 21 to 24, while a few guests are requesting to advance their booking due to extended holidays starting this weekend,” said Dennis D’costa, General Manager of Hamdan Plaza Hotel.
He also mentioned that there is an increased demand from the expatriate community in the UAE and Oman.
“The city will definitely benefit all around during this period. The guests too will get an opportunity to enjoy Salalah especially with the weather this year being wonderful, they can also soak in the natural beauty of Salalah.”
Ibrahim Arat, Assistant Manager at Al Fanar, called the trend massive with 90 per cent of the rooms already booked. “We are expecting 100 per cent during the holidays. The trend suggests mostly Omanis followed by Emiratis and Saudis.”
Jacob from Dubai is planning to come to Salalah after hearing about so much of greenery and natural waterfalls flowing at many places in Salalah.
“To beat the heat here in the UAE, I found the Eid holidays the best time to explore. But the only difficulty I am having is the fact that I am not getting accommodation of my choice. Still I have booked a hotel room and I am coming.”
Ali Muqbali of Ibri has also a very close case. He wants to come but weighing his budget, as he had come to Salalah during the last season. “The news, photos and videos of Salalah are luring me to come this season also, but accommodation rates this year in Salalah are high. Still I am considering but not yet confirmed,” he said.
Manuel Levonian, GM of Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah, is happy over long Eid holidays for the flow he is expecting. He claimed to have very good season for the hotel, which saw high occupancy from the very beginning of the season.
Ahmed Massoud, GM of Hilton Salalah Resort, is new to Salalah and this is his first Khareef season here. “I had heard a lot about Salalah’s khareef. But what I am seeing here is more than what I had heard. Khareef season this year has definitely been busier than ever and we witnessed a positive increase in the number of tourists especially from Muscat, Bahrain, and the UAE. “The season started slowly but went into full swing after the Salalah Tourism Festival started. For the upcoming Eid holidays we are expecting full house and are definitely geared up to welcome all our guests, extending towards them our traditional Hilton hospitality.”
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