Locals, expats flock to Dhofar during Eid break

Salalah: With Oman enjoying a nine-day Eid Al Adha mini-vacation, it wasn’t long before families from across the Sultanate made plans to spend a few days enjoying the cool mist, pleasant breeze and refreshing drizzle of the Khareef season in the Dhofar Governorate, with the seasonal greenery making for a very pleasant change for many.
A number of visitors, particularly Omanis and those from GCC countries, often tend to bring their families to Dhofar to enjoy the atmosphere of the Khareef season, take in the nature, partake in various recreational activities, go hiking in the mountains and visit the waterfalls.
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There are archaeological landmarks which also attract visitors, in addition to the different types of cultural and traditional activities that have been organised for different age groups.
The demand for places to stay in the Dhofar Governorate increases tremendously during the Eid Al Adha vacation. Similarly, the rate of occupancy in hotel establishments and rest houses also rises, along with commercial activities in malls and retail markets, due to the influx of tourists.
Tourists come to Dhofar during the Khareef season, which traditionally begins on June 21 and ends on September 21. Plenty of real estate establishments are made available to meet the requirements of tourists.
The Dhofar Governorate has many traditional markets, or souqs, the most famous of which is Souq Al Hisn or Souq Al Hafa, which is a major tourist and economic landmark. It’s known for the sale of frankincense, incense and various traditional textiles and clothes, including traditional and modern jewellery wrought in gold and silver. There are many shops selling traditional Omani caps and turbans, the latter of which is known locally as mussar.
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Dhofar is home to many agricultural crops and its streets are lined with coconuts, bananas and papayas which attract tourists and serve as a source of income for the people of the governorate.
Tourists come to the kiosks to drink coconut water, as it is one of the crops for which Dhofar is known. Some tourists purchase coconut in large quantities to give to their friends and relatives. Vendors also cut fresh bananas and papayas and pack them for customers.