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Dhofar’s famed khareef attracts tourists amid pandemic

7 Aug 2021 By

Visitors from several parts of Oman are flocking to the wilayat of Salalah to enjoy the khareef season. 

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Salim al Kathiri from the Ittin area in the wilayat, said, ”This week, there were many tourists enjoying nature and the rain. Darbat Waterfalls, Al Mughsail Beach and the Ittin plains are fascinating sites during the khareef season.

“Many Dhofar citizens built hotel apartments recently in preparation of the season. Hotel apartments are seeing a big demand this year compared to the 2020 khareef which was during a full lockdown.”

Hamad al Balushi, who is currently visiting Salalah, said, “All vaccinated people are allowed to enter the city. The weather is really great. I visited a lot of sites, including Arzat, Tabraq and the Al Mughsail beach west of Salalah which has soft silver sand.” 

Balushi noted that it’s important to support domestic tourism but also follow the precautionary measures and decisions of the Supreme Committee to limit the spread of the coronavirus and return to normal life at the earliest. 

 

Preventive measures 

 

]“The Royal Oman Police endeavours to provide the best services and police presence in all locations in Dhofar governorate and the roads leading to it. We urge the public not to gather and crowd in order to limit the spread of the virus,” said Lt Col Saeed bin Mohammed al Buraiki, director of Traffic – Salalah in Dhofar Governorate Police Command.

“The Dhofar Governorate Police Command has prepared for khareef by making plans at the tourist sites to facilitate movement in order to prevent traffic jams and to keep visitors safe.”

More than 200 domestic flights landed in Salalah in May and June 2021, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information. Eighty-eight domestic flights carrying 8,751 passengers landed in Salalah in May, and 114 flights landed in June carrying 15,39 passengers.

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