Just five days into the official opening of the Salalah Tourism Festival 2008, Oman’s lush green splendour is clocking a huge turnout.
The first weekend saw the verdant, picturesque locations of Salalah packed up to the brim with tourists from all over the world.
If Oman Air flew all it’s flights full to Salalah, most hotels would not have rooms to spare for the tourists.Many hotels are already full, and a manager was quoted saying that Khareef is too good a season to not miss while in Salalah. Most of the bookings are from AGCC countries, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates leading the list.
Apartments and tourist complexes are also registering a good amount of profit. Car rental companies and taxi drivers are having a field day with the sudden influx of tourists.
With the arrival of the Khareef season, the landscape is bearing a different look. The lush green hills, misty woods and sparkling mountain springs are inviting and give the place a magical effect. The lush coconut groves and banana plantations set against the dramatic mountain backdrop offer a jaw-dropping view to the onlooker.
Pointing to Salalah’s main draw, Mughsail, with it’s sandy beaches and green cliffs, apart from the extraordinary blow-holes, there is absolutely no where in the world where you will witness such a phenomenon.
I, as a Malayalee, now understand why tourism rates to Kerala are dropping. For GCC nationals, they don’t need to go there and experience the beauty (as well as mosquito bites) when a mini-clone is right in front of them.
