Latest news with #MoHT
Observer
5 days ago
- Observer
Campaign held in GCC cities to showcase khareef season
MUSCAT: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MoHT) is pressing ahead with efforts to boost tourism in Dhofar Governorate, notably by implementing promotional activities in key shopping malls across GCC cities. The campaign takes the theme 'Your Summer is Green'. The campaign focuses on Khareef Dhofar Season, one of the most prominent tourism attraction periods in the Sultanate of Oman. During the khareef season, which begins on June 21 every year, Dhofar Governorate is endowed with moderate weather and adorned with picturesque vegetation. To make optimum use of the khareef season, the MoHT provides visitors with full information that enables them to engage in different tourism experiences and activities, including recreational events, nature exploration trips and visits to heritage and archaeological sites. The information also includes an account of direct flight options to Salalah. This facilitates access to hotspots in Dhofar Governorate and enhances its appeal as a preferred summer destination. Besides attracting visitors from GCC states, the information boosts Dhofar's presence on the regional tourism map. The promotional activities provide an opportunity to introduce visitors to Dhofar Governorate's tourism attractions and reflect the Sultanate of Oman's commitment to develop the tourism sector throughout the year. The ministry launched similar promotional campaigns during its participation in the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai in April 2025. Oman was represented at the event by Dhofar Municipality, which dedicated a special gallery in Oman's pavilion to highlight the features, landmarks and events that will be held during Khareef Dhofar Season 2025. Last month (May 2025), the ministry organised two workshops in Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The workshops saw the participation of tourism sector partners from Dhofar Governorate, as well as Flynas and Flyadeal. It is worth noting that direct flights will be operated on a daily basis to Salalah Airport during the khareef season. Earlier, the MoHT implemented similar promotional activities in the State of Kuwait and the Kingdom of Bahrain as part of events aimed at marketing the Khareef Dhofar Season 2025. - ONA
Zawya
12-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Dhofar gears up for Khareef 2025 with new tourism projects and expanded promotions
Muscat: Dhofar Governorate is set to welcome visitors for the 2025 Khareef season with an array of new tourism projects and intensified promotional efforts, building upon its already rich offerings. The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MoHT) is actively opening new facilities and refining strategies to enhance the visitor experience and boost tourist numbers. New additions to Dhofar's tourism landscape In preparation for the upcoming Khareef season, several new tourism projects are being inaugurated: • The Dhofar Private Museum • A three-star hotel in Mirbat with 84 rooms • Luxury hotel apartments in Salalah boasting 216 rooms These additions bring the total number of licensed residential and commercial buildings in Dhofar to 100, collectively offering over 8,000 hotel rooms. Furthermore, a new tourist information center will open at the Haffa Beach Market to better serve visitors. Dhofar: A Unique Summer Escape Khalid bin Abdullah Al Abri, Director General of the Directorate General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar Governorate, highlighted Dhofar's distinct appeal as a summer destination. He noted its exceptional climate during Khareef, which draws diverse visitors from across the globe. The governorate's natural diversity, encompassing beaches, mountain valleys, golden sands, and nature reserves, creates an ideal setting for adventure, water sports, camping, fishing, turtle watching, and kitesurfing. Additionally, visitors can explore traditional shipbuilding workshops, adding a cultural dimension to their experience. The presence of green turtles nesting from June to August further enhances its unique tourist appeal. Strategic Promotional Plan The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has developed a comprehensive action plan for the Dhofar Khareef season's tourism promotion, alongside a broader marketing program for all tourism seasons this year. This proactive approach aims to attract various segments of the global market. Key promotional activities include: • Targeting foreign markets through tailored programs, workshops, field visits, and media newsletters. • Participation in the Arabian Travel Market 2025 exhibition in Dubai, where Dhofar Municipality's Chairman announced the season's events. • Organising promotional workshops in Saudi Arabia to highlight new direct flights to Salalah Airport via Flynas and Flyadeal, with collaboration from Omani airports and tourism companies. • A press conference in Kuwait with Dhofar Municipality to promote the 2025 Dhofar Autumn Season's programs and events. • A special promotional campaign in Kuwait coinciding with Eid Al Adha, featuring information, offers, and packages, supported by direct flights from Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways. Objectives for Khareef 2025 The Ministry aims to achieve three main objectives through its promotional programs for the upcoming season: 1) Promote the entire 100-day period of the Khareef season, starting from its beginning. 2) Distribute tourist flow more evenly by segmenting the season (June 21 to September 21) into three periods to manage peak times: • Period 1 (June 21 - July 14): Expected hotel occupancy rates of 35-40%. • Period 2 (July 15 - August 30): Considered the peak tourist season. • Period 3 (September 1 - October 10): Expected hotel occupancy rates of 30-35%, with efforts to shift regional and international conferences to this period. 3) Increase tourist numbers from GCC markets by intensifying marketing campaigns and leveraging the expanding airline network, especially direct flights from Saudi Arabia via Saudi Airlines and Flyadeal (a new operator to Dhofar). Flynas will continue its direct flights to Salalah. The Ministry is also collaborating with tourism sector partners to design appealing tourism packages. These packages aim to boost domestic and Gulf tourism during off-peak times, such as the start of the school year, by maximizing direct flights from key Gulf markets. The Dhofar Khareef season has consistently shown strong growth. In 2024, the number of visitors reached 1,048,000, marking a 9% increase compared to the 962,000 visitors recorded in 2023, underscoring the region's increasing popularity as a premier tourist destination. © Muscat Media Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Times of Oman
11-06-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Dhofar gears up for Khareef 2025 with new tourism projects and expanded promotions
Muscat: Dhofar Governorate is set to welcome visitors for the 2025 Khareef season with an array of new tourism projects and intensified promotional efforts, building upon its already rich offerings. The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MoHT) is actively opening new facilities and refining strategies to enhance the visitor experience and boost tourist numbers. New additions to Dhofar's tourism landscape In preparation for the upcoming Khareef season, several new tourism projects are being inaugurated: • The Dhofar Private Museum • A three-star hotel in Mirbat with 84 rooms • Luxury hotel apartments in Salalah boasting 216 rooms These additions bring the total number of licensed residential and commercial buildings in Dhofar to 100, collectively offering over 8,000 hotel rooms. Furthermore, a new tourist information center will open at the Haffa Beach Market to better serve visitors. Dhofar: A Unique Summer Escape Khalid bin Abdullah Al Abri, Director General of the Directorate General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar Governorate, highlighted Dhofar's distinct appeal as a summer destination. He noted its exceptional climate during Khareef, which draws diverse visitors from across the globe. The governorate's natural diversity, encompassing beaches, mountain valleys, golden sands, and nature reserves, creates an ideal setting for adventure, water sports, camping, fishing, turtle watching, and kitesurfing. Additionally, visitors can explore traditional shipbuilding workshops, adding a cultural dimension to their experience. The presence of green turtles nesting from June to August further enhances its unique tourist appeal. Strategic Promotional Plan The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has developed a comprehensive action plan for the Dhofar Khareef season's tourism promotion, alongside a broader marketing program for all tourism seasons this year. This proactive approach aims to attract various segments of the global market. Key promotional activities include: • Targeting foreign markets through tailored programs, workshops, field visits, and media newsletters. • Participation in the Arabian Travel Market 2025 exhibition in Dubai, where Dhofar Municipality's Chairman announced the season's events. • Organising promotional workshops in Saudi Arabia to highlight new direct flights to Salalah Airport via Flynas and Flyadeal, with collaboration from Omani airports and tourism companies. • A press conference in Kuwait with Dhofar Municipality to promote the 2025 Dhofar Autumn Season's programs and events. • A special promotional campaign in Kuwait coinciding with Eid Al Adha, featuring information, offers, and packages, supported by direct flights from Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways. Objectives for Khareef 2025 The Ministry aims to achieve three main objectives through its promotional programs for the upcoming season: 1) Promote the entire 100-day period of the Khareef season, starting from its beginning. 2) Distribute tourist flow more evenly by segmenting the season (June 21 to September 21) into three periods to manage peak times: • Period 1 (June 21 - July 14): Expected hotel occupancy rates of 35-40%. • Period 2 (July 15 - August 30): Considered the peak tourist season. • Period 3 (September 1 - October 10): Expected hotel occupancy rates of 30-35%, with efforts to shift regional and international conferences to this period. 3) Increase tourist numbers from GCC markets by intensifying marketing campaigns and leveraging the expanding airline network, especially direct flights from Saudi Arabia via Saudi Airlines and Flyadeal (a new operator to Dhofar). Flynas will continue its direct flights to Salalah. The Ministry is also collaborating with tourism sector partners to design appealing tourism packages. These packages aim to boost domestic and Gulf tourism during off-peak times, such as the start of the school year, by maximizing direct flights from key Gulf markets. The Dhofar Khareef season has consistently shown strong growth. In 2024, the number of visitors reached 1,048,000, marking a 9% increase compared to the 962,000 visitors recorded in 2023, underscoring the region's increasing popularity as a premier tourist destination.
Observer
03-06-2025
- Business
- Observer
More youth to be trained for hospitality sector
A number of Omani youth will be trained and prepared to work in the hospitality sector, thanks to the ongoing efforts to boost inbound tourism, according to Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MoHT) sources. An agreement to train Omani youth in various fields of hospitality starting with hotel reception was signed by the MoHT with Mitsui E&P Middle East to finance and implement training programmes for the youth. The training programme will be implemented in cooperation with the Muscat Hospitality Academy, which is part of the internationally accredited Swiss School of Business, Hospitality and Hotel Management programmes. The three-month programme aims to qualify Omani staff to work in the hotel reception and front office management sector, enhancing the quality of tourism services provided and keeping pace with developments in this vital field. This agreement comes within the framework of joint efforts to enhance national empowerment in the tourism sector by developing the skills of Omani youth and preparing them for work in the hospitality sector. This agreement represents a model step for Public and Private Partnerships (PPP), reflecting the ongoing efforts to support the sustainable development of the tourism sector in the Sultanate of Oman by providing advanced training opportunities that open new horizons for Omani youth to work and contribute to strengthening the national economy. The ministry affirmed that this initiative is part of its plan to enhance national skills, commending the cooperation with Mitsui E&P Middle East and Muscat Hospitality Academy to achieve these shared goals. This agreement is part of a series of projects the ministry is implementing to support and develop the tourism sector and achieve its vision of building a sustainable tourism sector that contributes to comprehensive development in the Sultanate of Oman.
Observer
02-04-2025
- Observer
Rose harvest season begins in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MoHT) has invited tourists to experience the annual rose harvest season which has kicked off in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah. Every year, during the rose festival season which is usually from the end of March until mid-May, the rugged mountain landscape of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar transforms into a spectacular shade of pink. The vast, green terraces lying at an altitude of more than 3,000 metres become covered with more than 5,000 rose trees on an area of roughly 7 to 10 acres. It is typically associated with the distillation of rose water, which serves as a key component of ornamental products, aromatics and sweets and Omani coffee. The rose water is used as flavouring for food and beverages, and has recently been introduced into the cosmetics industry, including creams and aromatic soaps. Not only that, the roses, after pressing, are used in soap and fertiliser production, according to the residents of the wilayat. According to statistics, the rose production in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar has increased significantly to over 20 tonnes last year from 9 tonnes. The production in 2024 was valued at RO 200,000, highlighting the economic importance of rose farming in the wilayat. Additionally, the amount of rose water produced from those trees is estimated at 28,000 litres. "The rose harvest season in Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, which runs from the end of March and continues until mid-April every year, ushers in a state of tourism diversity and allows tourists to have a close look at traditional and modern methods of distilling rose water," a spokesperson from the ministry said. "The harvest season is closely connected with our tradition and culture and attracts visitors who participate in picking and processing roses and enjoy cultural performances, traditional food and local hospitality which happen in my wilayat," says Abdullah al Dharmaki, a public sector employee from Al Jabal Al Akhdhar. Realising the value addition of the rose harvest to the national GDP, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and A project was launched in March 2024 to boost rose cultivation. With RO 150,000 financing from the Agricultural and Fisheries Development Fund, the two-year project aims to benefit 15 farmers. Objectives include conducting a study on rose cultivation and related industries in collaboration with local SMEs, supporting the cultivation of an additional five acres of roses, introducing agricultural machinery and providing training to beneficiaries engaged in the rose water industry.
