Salalah – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) has issued a public advisory urging visitors travelling to Dhofar during the khareef season to ensure that they book only licensed tourism establishments, warning that dealing with unlicensed accommodation providers could expose visitors to poor services and legal complications.

The ministry said it has observed an increase in the number of promoters, advertisers and social media accounts marketing unlicensed tourism facilities and accommodation units in the recent weeks. Such practices, it warned, violate tourism regulations and may result in legal accountability for those involved in promoting or operating these establishments.

In its statement, the ministry called on all visitors to verify that any hotel, apartment, chalet, farm stay or tourism facility they intend to book is officially licensed before making a reservation.

According to the ministry, choosing licensed accommodation helps ensure that visitors receive quality services that comply with the standards set by the authorities. It also guarantees transparent and competitive pricing while protecting the rights of guests in the event of complaints or disputes.

MHT stressed that licensed tourism establishments operate under regulatory oversight designed to maintain service quality, safety standards and consumer protection. By contrast, bookings made through unlicensed providers may not offer the same safeguards and could leave travellers without legal recourse if problems arise.