OMAN’S Ministry of Tourism has announced that this year’s popular Khareef Festival, one of the top events for Salalah in Oman’s Dhofar Province, will commence on July 1, 2011 and run for 30 days.
The festival draws visitors from neighbouring Arab countries and around the world to enjoy the Dhofar governorate’s cool ‘khareef’ or monsoon months which last from June to September and the ministry expects a five per cent increase in tourist arrivals during this year’s Khareef Festival.
Salalah is often referred to as the ‘Perfume Capital of Arabia’ due to the abundance of frankincense trees in the area. During the ‘khareef’ season the accompanying rain and fog transform the city into a fragrant green paradise. This year’s mix of games, rides, concerts and food displays is once again expected to attract huge local, regional and international audiences. The festival normally starts in June but has been moved to July to accommodate the Holy Month of Ramadan.
“Salalah’s Khareef Festival is one of Oman’s longest-running promotional platforms and a vital component in our plans to grow the tourism sector’s GDP contributions to at least three per cent,” said Salem Al Mamari, director general of tourism promotions, at Oman’s Ministry of Tourism. “So far we have witnessed a strong influx of tourists to the country, particularly to Salalah, so we are confident of achieving record numbers this year with the diverse lineup of family-friendly events.”
The Khareef Festival is one of many local events celebrating the historical, cultural and environmental beauty of Oman. The Global Peace Index published just recently by the Institute for Economics and Peace ranks the sultanate fourth most peaceful in the Arab region, making it a perfect leisure and lifestyle destination.