Oman Tourism Ministry completes preparations for Khareef 2023
Muscat, The Gulf Observer: Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MoHT) has completed its preparations for Khareef season, which is considered one of the most important tourist seasons in the Sultanate of Oman due to the exceptional atmosphere that is unique to Dhofar Governorate.
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 has developed a plan to promote the Khareef season and a marketing strategy for all periods of the season, which extends for three months, in proportion to each period, through promotion in the media and advertisements through social media, and establishing partnerships with airlines and hotel establishments to implement a joint promotional campaign throughout the season.”
“There is an existing cooperation with airlines and hotels to design promotional packages that attract visitors, as many packages have actually been offered and sold through platforms and websites of tourist offices, which have witnessed great demand and interest,” Al-Ghassani added.
Al-Ghassani indicated that the ministry has succeeded, since last season, in promoting the periods in which the tourist movement decreases with the beginning and end of the season due to the incomplete Khareef weather and the conditions for the start of the school year by focusing On various tourism patterns represented in adventure tourism and hosting international sports competitions and tournaments. In addition to coordinating joint efforts with the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center to allocate a period of September and October to organize specialized international conferences and exhibitions.
The Director of the Promotion Department at the Directorate General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar Governorate confirmed that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is intensifying its efforts to enhance the position of Dhofar Governorate as one of the best sustainable tourism destinations in the region, while increasing the richness of the tourism product to form unique and diverse experiences for tourists through tourism services that meet the requirements of all groups, and to check the readiness of the accommodation facilities, which number 50 hotel that include approximately 6,000 licensed hotel room .
“Direct flights will be operated from several airports in the Sultanate of Oman and regional and international airports to Salalah Airport with more than 160 weekly flights during the season, to provide options for travelers to enjoy the Khareef season.”
Regarding the efforts made by the Ministry to promote the Khareef season, Marwan bin Abdul Hakim Al-Ghassani said:” Mobile promotional workshops were organised in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, starting from Riyadh, passing through Dammam, and then Jeddah to keep pace with the growth of visitors coming from Saudi Arabia and other destinations in general, as 13 weekly direct flights will operate from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.”
The governorate will also witness the opening of a number of tourism projects during this season, as part of the efforts made by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism to enhance and benefit from the tourism seasons in order to achieve the highest gains in the local added value of the tourism sector, in accordance with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
