Ras Al Jinz Reserve a hotspot for tourists
Foreign tourists, including Arabs, as well as the citizens of the country like visiting turtle reserve
MUSCAT: The number of people who visited Ras Al Janz Reserve of Ras Al Hadd in Wilayat of Sur between January and November this year reached 56,957.
They included 38,744 foreigners and 18,213 Omanis. Saud bin Hamad Al Alawi, Director of Tourism in South Al Sharqiyah governorate, said that the turtle reserve was one of the main tourist destinations in Oman.
People like to visit it throughout the year. He said that the reserve was one of the eco-tourism destinations which Oman is trying to preserve as a national treasure as it promotes sustainable tourism.
Foreign tourists, including Arabs, as well as the citizens of the country like visiting turtle sanctuary. They enjoy turtle watching, relaxation and tranquility of the area. The objective of establishing the Ras Al Jinz Reserve, by a Royal Decree in 1996, was to preserve one of the rarest natural elements of the country. This is the place where one can watch the nesting of turtles.
Vijay Handa, Regional Director, said that Ras Al Jinz is one of the famous reserves of the world. For everyone who is visiting the Sultanate, it has become a main destination. Those who visit it always advise others to experience going there.
“There is a continuous growth in the number of visitors. Similarly, the number of turtles is also increasing annually. In the reserve, we are well prepared for the tourist season,” said Vijay Handa.
“We are seeing an increase in the number of visitors since the last week of September and October. We expect an increase of eight to nine per cent in the number of visitors this season, compared to the same period last year,” he said.
“Watching turtles is one of the most important eco-tourism activities in the Sultanate. This is because this is the most important place of nesting for various species of turtles including endangered green turtle and Olive Ridley turtles. The organisers of the tours allow visitors to watch the nesting calmly and compassionately without causing fear or inconvenience to the turtles. There is also an interactive museum in the Ras Al Jinz reserve.
Shows and plans
“We have many other shows and activities for our visitors this year, including Leisure Concierge, which has mountaineering, fishing, dolphin watching, visiting Omani house and star gazing,” said Nasir bin Mohammad bin Hamad Al Ghailani, Director General of the reserve.
He said that there were huge plans for the reserve for the next two years to make it a destination for stay for two to three days. Oman Tourism Development Company will announce the details at an appropriate time.
The Director General of the reserve said that the reserve has seen enormous tourist activity. “Every day, 250-400 people are visiting. This turnout is a catalyst for us in the reserve. It shows that people like and appreciate it.
The reserve has continuous seasons. The nesting season of turtles begins in May. We have noticed that in the last five years the number of turtles has increased significantly.”
He said that the development of the reserve included the addition of three luxury environment friendly camps, department of cruises to watch dolphins, diving with sea turtles, fishing and visiting the home of a citizen which makes the visitor familiar with the heritage and culture of the Omani people and their traditional customs.
The plan also includes bicycling and target shooting games for children and adults. Khamis bin Abdullah bin Khamis Al Amiri, a tourist guide, said: “I have been working for about 10 years in the reserve as a tour guide.
We explain the life of turtles to visitors throughout the day to groups of around 25 visitors. We also answer their questions about the process of nesting of turtles.
We keep telling the tourists to not cause inconvenience to the turtles through lights and noise.”
Important role
Hisham bin Khalifa Al Matani of the Tourist Guidance Department at the Ras Al Jinz Scientific Centre said: “Our main role at the Tourist Guidance Department is to protect the turtles from inconvenience and to take care of the visitor. “Visitors are divided as 25 people in each group. There is a guide for each group. The guide works either in English or in Arabic.”
At first the tourists are given a warm welcome. Then the guide introduces himself to the group of tourists and visitors. Then the tourists are given certain guidelines and instructions to follow during their stay on the beach. They have to follow these rules and not use lights. They have to avoid smoking. They can take photos but without flashlights.
World famous
Ras Al Jinz Beach is world renowned for nesting of endangered green turtles (Cheloniamydas). It is perhaps one of the most important nesting places along the coast of the Indian Ocean.