(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat -
There was a huge turnout of khareef season tourists during the Eid al Adha holidays in Dhofar.
The governorate is known for its diverse culture and local traditional food like Qabooli, Al Midhbi, Al Maghmi, Al Majeen, Al Asedah, Harees and Al Qassabiyah.
Tourists are also attracted to its various agricultural products such as coconut, bananas and sugarcane. It is also known for its traditional markets or souqs including Souq al Hisn (Al Haffa).
Marwan bin Abdulhakeem al Ghassani, director of Tourism Promotions at the Directorate General of Tourism in Dhofar governorate, said that the Ministry of Tourism has made extraordinary efforts to ensure that tourists when they visited the governorate enjoyed it.
With a number of activities, the directorate general tried to bring a smile on the faces of the tourists who stayed there during Eid al Adha. All those activities were important from cultural, social and entertainment point of view and added more attractions to the natural beauty of the governorate.
Ghassani said, 'Dhofar governorate is the preferred destination for tourists during the Eid al Adha holidays. This is because of its rich tourist and cultural elements.
'The directorate general organised a number of activities with the Omani Women's Association in Taqah and in cooperation with the office of the governor of the wilayat and support of Muscat Overseas Group of Companies. They included various beach contests, folk dances, exhibition of industries and handicrafts and fine arts show.
'These activities enhanced tourism and commercial movement. There was also focus on tourist and archaeological landmarks.'
Dhofar has many traditional markets known as souqs, prominent among them is Souq al Hisn or Al Haffa which is a major tourist and economic landmark. It is famous for the sale of frankincense, incense and various traditional textiles and clothes, including traditional and modern jewellery. There are many shops selling traditional Omani caps or turbans locally called mussar.
Mohammed bin Ibrahim, a Bangladeshi national, said, 'For five years, I have been selling coconuts and bananas. Tourists come here to drink sugarcane juice as it is one of the crops for which Dhofar is known for. 'We also cut fresh bananas and pack them for customers.'
There are many small shops by the roadsides. The road which goes to Iteen plains has many restaurants and shops too.
Shops offering Al Madhibi are also quite popular on this stretch. Al Madhibi has its own style of grilling on pebbles or stones, said Nasser bin Salem al Mamari, the owner of a restaurant that specialises in it.
The demand for hospitality properties in Dhofar governorate also increased during the Eid al Adha holidays.
Similarly, the rate of occupancy in hotel establishments and rest houses also rose along with commercial activities in malls and retail markets due to the influx of tourists. The khareef season in Dhofar is from June 21 to September 21.
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