Salalah: From June 21 to September 21, 2024, the Dhofar Khareef attracted approximately 1,048,000 visitors, marking an increase of 962,000 visitors, which translates to a 9 percent rise compared to the same timeframe in 2023.
According to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information, the number of Omani visitors surged by 70.1 percent, totaling 734,588 compared to 676,009 in the previous year. Additionally, visitors from Gulf Cooperation Council countries rose by 16.9 percent, reaching 176,643, up from 161,472 in 2023.
Visitors from other Arab nations also saw a 3.6 percent increase, totaling 37,790 compared to 35,095 in the same period last year.
Statistics indicate that the influx of visitors from Asian countries grew by 8.3 percent, amounting to around 86,678, compared to 78,401 in 2023.
European visitors increased slightly by 0.5 percent, reaching approximately 7,992, up from 7,433 recorded in the previous year.
Furthermore, visitors from other countries in 2024 numbered 4,060, reflecting a 0.3 percent rise from 3,008 in 2023.
During the period from June 21 to September 21, 2024, the Dhofar Khareef saw 794,596 visitors arriving through the land port, compared to 722,795 in 2023. Meanwhile, air travel brought in 253,155 visitors this season, an increase from 239,401 in the previous year.
Statistics revealed that from June 21 to September 21, 2024, there were 103,073 international flights, while domestic flights totaled 150,082.
In the past two years, the Dhofar Governorate has seen the development and inauguration of several tourism projects in collaboration with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Dhofar Municipality, and Omran Group.
These initiatives included the Darbat and Hamrir viewpoints, the Al Mughsayl waterfront, and the enhancement of Ain Jarziz. Additionally, two tourism projects were launched in the Wilayat of Mirbat: the Al Dammar viewpoint and the Aghabeer breather in its initial phase, along with the development of the Shaat viewpoint in the Wilayat of Rakhyut.
During the Dhofar Autumn Season, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism executed various programs aimed at promoting the Dhofar Autumn Tourism Season 2024. This included advertising on billboards across the Sultanate of Oman and several GCC countries, as well as hosting influencers and content creators from both within and outside the Sultanate to cover diverse tourist events and attractions.
Furthermore, promotional campaigns for the season were conducted through the ministry’s social media platforms, announcements via external media channels, and sponsorship of events in Dhofar Governorate during the season. Familiarization trips were organized for tourism offices, companies, and media delegations from outside the Sultanate, along with the “Marhaba Dhofar” event, which welcomed 50 tourism and travel offices and involved 16 media professionals, totaling 65 participants from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism emphasized that this promotional effort is a key element in drawing tourists from Gulf Cooperation Council nations and other countries worldwide, allowing them to discover the unique tourist attractions and exceptional ambiance that define Dhofar Governorate in contrast to other regional destinations.
The ministry also noted that the tourism representation offices located in Dubai and Riyadh have significantly contributed to the rise in flight availability to Salalah over the previous season.
