Khareef season begins in Dhofar

During this unique climatic condition, Salalah becomes a tourist destination for families from the Sultanate and beyond

SALALAH: The Governorate of Dhofar started receiving visitors from inside and outside the Sultanate to enjoy the Khareef Season, which runs from June 21 to September 21 every year.

Khareef is a unique phenomenon in the Sultanate that affects most costal wilayats in the Governorate of Dhofar from the Wilayat of Dhalkut in the west till the Wilayat of Mirbat in the east.

The phenomenon is called monsoon.

During this season, Salalah becomes a tourist destination for family tourism from the Sultanate and the Gulf region. During this unique climatic condition, private and public sector organisations prepare to receive visitors and tourists by providing them with the facilitates and services that meet their needs.

The Governorate of Dhofar has tourism elements that include various natural environments, such as silver beaches, sands, a range of mountains, valleys, flat plains, desert extending to the Empty Quarter, water springs throughout the country, natural fountains and various caves.

The Al Baleed Archaeological Park is considered one of the most important sites to be visited.

It includes the Land of Frankincense Museum, which includes a comprehensive view of the Sultanate in its different regions and time stages, in addition to the historical Samharam Park and historic castles in the Wilayats of Taqah, Mirbat and Sadah.

The governorate is famous for its production of frankincense, whose tree is a symbol of the Governorate of Dhofar, and represents the main trade item in the south of the Arabian Peninsula in the past and an important source of income. There are also some beautiful tourist attractions that tourists are keen to visit, such as the plains and mountains, especially Ittin Plain, and the Hamreer Plain, as well as the main water springs scattered throughout the governorate, mainly Rizat, Garziz, Hamran, Sahalnot, Athom and Darbat.

The Al Mughsail Beach area attracts many tourists to see Al Marnif Cave, natural fountains, visiting traditional markets, frankincense shops, Omani sweets, and local fresh produce shops, especially bananas, papaya, sugarcane and coconut.

Accommodation services in the governorate, hotels in Salalah have begun to prepare for the reception of their customers during Khareef Season, as well as hotel apartments through maintenance and development.

Salalah is witnessing the addition of several accommodation sites to various levels to accommodate the increasing numbers of tourists in Khareef Season. The number of hotel establishments in Governorate of Dhofar is 32 establishments with 3499 hotel rooms with an expected 1851 hotel rooms by the end of this year.

The malls and shops of the city are also witnessing a remarkable development, in addition to the Salalah markets, which are rich in the traditional products and industries of the season, especially the shops selling frankincense, incense, silver industries, bakery, Omani sweets and agricultural products.

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