Salalah witnessed a massive influx of tourists at the start of the Khareef (south east monsoon) season this year, recording 393,312 tourists between June and August, up from 272,306 visitors in the same period in 2014.

Many of the foreign visitors, majority of who are from Oman’s neighbouring states, fly to the city to take part in the over-a-month-long Salalah Tourism Festival.

Kicking off simultaneously with the commemoration of the Oman Renaissance Day on July 23, the festival celebrates the monsoon season with various religious, cultural, sports and entertainment activities. It also highlights Oman’s traditional handcrafts, arts, and games. The festival will run till August 31 under the theme ‘Oman: Love and Peace’.

Salim Edi Al Mamari, director general of Tourism Promotion, Oman Ministry of Tourism, said: “Salalah, Oman’s second largest city and home of frankincense, continuously attracts tourists from around the globe. Its white sandy beaches, mountains, green valleys and lagoons as well as its ancient trade links make it a famous destination for holidaymakers. Aside from its rich history and natural beauty, tourist arrivals have also been continuously growing over the years, with many once-in-a-lifetime activities such as dolphin spotting and underwater expeditions in store for them. The yearly Salalah Tourism Festival, along with the opening of the new Salalah airport, is also driving this growth. We aim to maintain this momentum by consistently boosting our tourism campaigns.” – TradeArabia News Service