How has the Khareef season been this year compared to 2007?

Khareef 2008 was a fantastic in terms of the increased influx of GCC nationals to Salalah compared with the previous years. The increased services and facilities this year helped encouraging tourists to extend their stay in addition the various programmes and activities  at  the Salalah Tourism Festival ground.

Internal tourism was also a highlight in Khareef 2008, increased numbers of residents from all over Oman visited Salalah during Khareef  this year and  residents are  the majority segment according  to the  statistics  recorded on different entry points by  the Ministry of tourism the Tourism information offices. The other notable segment witnessed increase in traffic in this Khareef was the MICE events held in Salalah during Khareef 2008.

Who are the main clients and where do you get majority of the business from?

We get our business mostly from the neighbouring gulf countries, especially from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

What according to you are the current USPs of  Salalah?

* Frankincense trees (Trails and treatment) – THE LAND OF FRANK INCESE
* Virgin Beaches
* The combination of dif ferent environment - Marine, Coastal, Plains, Mountains and
Desert
* Cafes and Water springs
* Blow holes of Mughsayl Beach
* Diving – the second best spot in the Middle East  for diving after SHARM Al SHAIKH in Egypt.

What steps do you think that need to be taken to improve Salalah tourism?

I would recommend increase of facilities en-route to the tourist attractions. For example, we need to have toilets and wash rooms, quality restaurants on the roadsides leading to the tourist destinations. We need dueling some roads like the Ittin mountain road for instance. We also need to have  more parking space for vehicles at the main tourist attractions like the Mughsyal Beach,  Wadi Darbat, Nabi Ayoub’s tomb, and other places. Fumigation of water ponds, water springs and the “Khors” to curb mosquitoes during Khareef must also be considered.

Where will tourism in Salalah be 5 years from today?

Looking good and promising – with the new international Airport project, more Hotels and more awareness about Salalah.