Muscat: The Dhofar Municipality, in collaboration with both governmental and private entities, is diligently working to rejuvenate several new tourist destinations, enhance the aesthetics of facades, and execute a series of road improvement projects within the Dhofar Governorate. This initiative is being undertaken in alignment with the Dhofar Khareef season for the year 2024.
Dr. Ahmed bin Mohsen Al-Ghassani, the esteemed Chairman of the Dhofar Municipality, expressed his satisfaction with the success of the Dhofar Khareef season 2023. He highlighted the significant achievements of the season, including a remarkable increase in tourism, commercial activities, and support for various sectors. The season witnessed a surge in visitor numbers, with approximately one million tourists, marking an 18.4 percent rise from the previous year. Furthermore, the total expenditure during the season surpassed OMR100 million.
In a statement to the Oman News Agency, Dr. Al-Ghassani anticipated a notable escalation in visitor numbers for the upcoming Dhofar Khareef season. He also projected that the volume of spending would exceed OMR115 million.
He elaborated on the current projects in progress within the Dhofar Governorate, which include the refurbishment of several sites aimed at becoming permanent tourist attractions. These sites include "Return of the Past," "Aten Square," "Uptown," and "Razath Boulevard," with plans to operate them in two phases. The first phase is expected to last for at least six months, followed by a second phase dedicated to the rehabilitation of these sites for extended operation.
Dr. Al-Ghassani confirmed the government's commitment to the development of the Dhofar Governorate across various sectors. This development effort encompasses traffic flow enhancement and the execution of numerous road improvement projects. The approved budget for these projects this year stands at OMR30 million, with additional investments in rainwater drainage systems, tourist site development, facade improvements, and other developmental projects.
He outlined the ambitious plans and approvals for future projects within the Dhofar Governorate, which are set to be unveiled in the coming period. These projects include infrastructure strengthening, road expansion across various wilayats, improvements to the rainwater drainage network, support for youth projects, and others.
Dr. Al-Ghassani concluded by acknowledging the significant contributions of the Dhofar Governorate over the past two years. The diligent efforts have led to the creation of activities and events post-autumn season, such as the "Sarb" and "Winter" seasons, which have been met with great success and have broadened the geographical appeal of the governorate to visitors.
He further explained that the summer season attracts tourists primarily from other governorates within the Sultanate of Oman and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The "Sarb" season sees an influx of tourists from various Arab nations, including Egypt, Libya, and Algeria, as well as Asian countries like China. The winter season, on the other hand, welcomes tourists from European countries, Eastern Europe, and other regions.
The Chairman of Dhofar Municipality emphasized that the commercial, economic, and tourism sectors within Dhofar Governorate have emerged as significant features. The governorate is actively pursuing various visions and strategies aimed at fostering growth in these sectors. This includes creating opportunities for small and medium enterprises, supporting Omani youth and innovators, and promoting investment across various commercial and economic sectors, whether they pertain to the tourism industry or the natural resources that define the governorate.
