110,000 visit top tourist spots during Eid holidays

MUSCAT: More than 110,000 people visited Dhofar, Jabal Akhdar, water pools and Ras Al Jinz during the Eid holidays, according to the biannual statistics released by the Department of Information and Statistics of the Directorate General of Planning, Follow-up and Information in the Ministry of Tourism.

A number of tourist destinations in the Sultanate had a huge influx of tourists in the first half of 2018, with 409,449 visitors from different nationalities visiting nine destinations.

According to statistics, the number of visitors to Jabel Akhdar was 93,307 between January and June this year.

The number of tourists to the aquatic pools of Wilayat Wadi Bani Khalid in the first half of this year was 80,982.

As far as Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve of Ras Al Hadd in the Wilayat of Sur in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate is concerned, the number of tourists to the destination in the first half of 2018 reached 21,489.

The number of tourists from different nationalities to Hoota Cave of Wilayat Al Hamra in the first six months of this year reached 30,867.

The Ministry of Tourism has added new destinations to the tourist map of Oman. The number of tourists to wildlife sanctuaries in the first half of 2018 was 267.

The number of visitors to the Qurm Nature Reserve reached 480 and Al Ansab lake 1,034. A total of 10,580 tourists visited the Daymaniyat Nature Reserve.

A total of 170,543 people visited the forts.

The tourist destinations saw a major influx of visitors during Eid Al Adha holidays. Jabal Akhdar saw 16,096 visitors between August 17 and 24.

Azhar bin Khalfan bin Said al Tobi, Assistant Director of Tourism in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, said the tourists heading towards Jabal Akhdar were received at tourist services centre of the ministry. Employees at these centres provided information to tourists during the Eid holidays.

Between August 19 and 25, water ponds in the Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid in North Al Sharqiyah Governorate received 10,590 visitors.

Talal bin Khalfan al Shuaibi, Director of Tourism in North al Sharqiyah Governorate, said the ministry had organised a number of events during the Eid holidays to activate domestic tourism.

Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve attracted 2,850 visitors during Eid Holidays.

Oman Tourism Development Company is working on several plans for the reserve, so that tourists have a better experience. As part of the plan, the staff of the reserve are being additional training.

It is also working on mountain tracks. As per the plan, there would be three mountain tracks that will showcase the beauty of the nature.

All rooms and tents at the centre will be renovated in the beginning of 2019. The nesting beach will be improved, turtle viewing floors will be constructed and low-rise walls will be built to save small turtles.

The number of visitors to Dhofar Governorate during the holidays was more than 85,000.

Marwan al Ghassani, Director of Promotions at Directorate General of Tourism in Dhofar Governorate, said the directorate was cooperating with tourism partners to promote the season after the end of the Khareef festival.

“We are working with airlines to continue the same number of flights as they were at the peak of Khareef season and support cooperation with hotel establishments to offer encouraging marketing offers,” he said. In South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, the Department of Tourism in organised activities across all wilayats of the governorate on the second day of Eid Al Adha. These activities included horse show on the Ne’mah beach in the Wilayat of Sur in cooperation with Sur Equestrian Club.

It also organised three-day folk arts and traditional games in cooperation with Al Saqla tourist camp and Amjad Al Sharq team. In the evening of the third day of Eid, recreational activities were organised at Masirah Island.

In Wilayat of Ibri, the Tourism Department of Al Dhahirah Governorate and the Tourism Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Oman organised the ‘Eidna in Dreiz’ festival in cooperation with the local people. It continued throughout the Eid holiday period.

There was a festival of paintings on Al Dhahirah Governorate’s history, tourism, heritage, customs and traditions.

A number of activities of the ‘Joy of Eid’ were organised at the Sohar Recreation Center and Ubel Silver Jubilee Park of Sohar. There were celebrations called as ‘Welcome Eid’ on the second day of Eid at Izki Public Park.

In Rustaq fort in South Al Batinah Governorate, many activities were organised. On the third day of Eid, celebrations were organised at Khasab Sports & Cultural Club of Musandam Governorate.

The North Al Sharqiyah Governorate held events in Zad Al Rakib Equestrian Ground at Al Yahmadi in Wilayat of Ibra.