The preparations for the exceptional season, the best of its kind in GCC region, have been completed
The season enhances the reputation of the Governorate of Dhofar as one of the best sustainable tourism destinations in the region and maximizes the richness of the tourism products
Above 160 weekly flights provide various options for travelling to the Governorate of Dhofar
The integration of the government efforts and tourism sector partners contribute to meet the needs of visitors.
Muscat ,June 2023 The Khareef Dhofar season to kick off on Wednesday, 21st June , last to 21st September 2023,while the preparations for the season have been completed , as Khareef season is considered one of the most important tourism seasons in the Sultanate of Oman, that due to the exceptional weather that gives the governorate of Dhofar a unique atmosphere to all its cities at this time of each year, while this uniqueness with multiple tourism elements has created a diversity in the tourism products in the Governorate of Dhofar.
The preparation for Khareef season comes within the framework of the efforts made by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) to enhance the tourism seasons and maximizing their utilization in order to achieve the highest gains of the in country value added of the tourism sector, in accordance with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 , while There are many tourism projects will be inaugurated during this season.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is intensifying its efforts to enhance the tourism reputation of the Governorate of Dhofar as one of the best sustainable tourism destinations in the region, as well as maximizing the richness of the tourism product in the region in order to form uniqueness and diverse experiences for visitors and tourists through offering comprehensive tourism services that meet the requirements of all groups of visitors , in addition to the availability of the well established accommodation services through 50 licensed hotel facilities with more than 6000 hotel rooms. The integration of the government efforts, the private sector and the tourism sector partners in the Governorate of Dhofar who are working with teamwork sprit for succeeding the season through coordination and continuous communication also contribute to meet the needs of visitors.
Marwan bin Abdulhakim Al-Ghassani, Director of Promotion at the Directorate General of Heritage and Tourism in the Governorate of Dhofar , said: “ The ministry of Heritage and Tourism has set a plan to promote the Khareef Dhofar season and developed a marketing strategy for all periods of the season, which extends for a period of three months, in proportion to each period through many tracks, including promotion in the media and paid advertisements through social media and the conclusion of partnerships with airlines and hotel establishments to implement a joint promotional campaign throughout the season”
He added: There is also existing cooperation with airlines and hotels to set attractive promotional packages, several packages have actually been offered and sold through the platforms and websites of tourist offices, as they have witnessed great demand and interest as a result of the attractive offers.
Al-Ghassani pointed out that, the ministry has succeeded since last season in promoting periods In which the tourist movement weakens at the beginning and at the end of the season due to the incomplete autumn weather and the conditions for the start of the school year by focusing on various tourism patterns such as adventure tourism and hosting international sports competitions and tournaments, in addition to coordination and joint efforts with the Oman Convention Bureau to allocate the period of September and October for organizing conferences and specialized international exhibitions.
He emphasized that , direct flights will be operated from a number of airports in the Sultanate of Oman, as well as regional and international airports, to Salalah Airport, with more than 160 weekly flights during the season, in order to provide options for travelers to enjoy the fall season, while the Governorate of Dhofar has been promoted in regional and international conferences and travel and tourism markets, where the events and activities that will be implemented during Khareef Dhofar have been highlighted.
13 weekly flights from Saudi Arabia:
Regarding the efforts exerted by the Ministry Heritage and Tourism to promote the Khareef season regionally and internationally , Marwan bin Abdulhakim Al-Ghassani said:” The Ministry is carrying out many promotional efforts to promote Khareef season, including mobile promotional workshops that were organized in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, starting from Riyadh, passing through Dammam, and then Jeddah, where the campaign focus on the Saudi market keeps pace with the volume of growth of visitors from this market to the Governorate of Dhofar, as well as to other destinations in the Sultanate of Oman in general, while the focusing of the promotional campaign has been on these Saudi cities due to the presence of 13 weekly direct flights from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to the Sultanate of Oman .
He added that the ministry in cooperation with the sector’s partners throughout the season to prepare packages of offers through attractive packages to the tourists.
The Governorate of Dhofar is one of the most important tourism destinations in the region. It has an infrastructure that includes roads linking tourism sites and water springs, which are among the famous tourism attractions in the governorate. Road construction and maintenance works have been carried out to provide a safe and integrated structure with urban and economic development. .
It is worth noting that the number of visitors to the Khareef Dhofar season of 2022, reached to (813) thousand visitors, compared to (767) thousand visitors during the Khareef season of 2019.
