Winter tourism season begins in Dhofar, MHT intensifies promotional efforts

Salalah: The winter tourism season has begun in the Dhofar Governorate and will continue until the end of April. It includes a number of tourism and entertainment programs and attracts tourists from all over the world, as the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is intensifying its efforts and campaigns to promote tourism in the governorate during this period.

Marwan bin Abdul Hakim Al-Ghassani, Director of the Promotion Department at the General Directorate of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar Governorate, said: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, in cooperation with its partners in the tourism sector, continues its efforts to promote the winter tourism season in Dhofar Governorate by implementing tourism programs and activities and harnessing and employing all means and tools that enhance the governorate’s position as a One of the most prominent destinations on the tourist map, as Al-Mughassil Beach has previously been classified by a number of specialized international sites as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

He added: The number of direct flights from European markets to Salalah Airport during the years (2022-2023) has reached “478” flights so far, in addition to “cruise” flights and cruise ships that have reached “30” flights, noting that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism organized During the past period, it supported more than “60” local, regional and international events to promote the governorate and its tourism, in addition to organizing annual festivals, including (the Empty Quarter Festival and the Frankincense Season).

He explained that the Ministry is making intensive efforts to market tourism to the Dhofar Governorate by carrying out introductory trips to the governorate, which amounted to “33” trips for media delegations, television and press teams, and representatives of tourism, regional and international offices, in addition to implementing more than “30” promotional campaigns that included external exhibitions, advertisements, and hosting influential figures. In addition to broadcasting and publishing a number of reports in various media outlets.

He pointed out that the governorate will host, next week, a delegation of French journalists to visit the most important archaeological and tourist attractions and prepare press reports about them and publish them in French newspapers and magazines, in addition to hosting a television team from the Czech Republic to direct a promotional film about the tourist sites that characterize the Dhofar Governorate with the aim of promoting them in the country. The Czech market in particular and all Eastern European markets.

He pointed out that the Ministry is currently hosting in Dhofar Governorate a group of well-known old football players from the Netherlands, as the hosting comes to focus on the governorate through media coverage of these players, which will have a positive impact and return in enhancing promotional efforts for the winter tourism season, in addition to hosting a delegation of tourism companies. Indian, accompanied by the Indian Tourism Representative Office, to conduct an introductory visit to a number of governorates of the Sultanate of Oman in the context of highlighting the tourism aspects in the various governorates.

The Director of the Promotion Department of the General Directorate of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar Governorate stressed that Dhofar Governorate possesses all the elements of tourist attraction represented by moderate weather, extended beaches, picturesque nature, heritage and archaeological sites registered on the World Heritage List (Al Baleed, Sumharam, Al Shasr), the Land of Frankincense Museum, and the historical forts in Taqah and Mirbat. And Sadah, in addition to natural markets, springs, valleys and caves, in addition to the diversity of adventure tourism activities, marine sports activities and desert tourism throughout the Rub al-Khali desert.

It is worth noting that the Governorate of Dhofar witnesses two tourist seasons annually: the winter tourism season, which begins from October to the end of April each year and attracts European tourists, in addition to the fall tourism season, which begins annually from June until September, and targets domestic, Gulf, and Arab tourism.