SALALAH:  A fresh cold wind blows down Salalah. Sitting inside his tropical style fruit hut that cuts through the heart of Dhofar Governorate, Salim Al Shakali is finally “chilling.” 

More than a year after the global pandemic forced the traditional Khareef season to cancel, devastating the tourism industry, Al Shakali is in ebullient mood. There’s a glint in his eye and a lightness in the air after seeing a rush in visitors in his shop. “They (visitors) are in town,” he smiles. “Masha Allah, business is slowly picking up,” Al Shakaili tells The Arabian Stories. 

Visitor influx has significantly increased in Dhofar Governorate in the last one month. Unprecedented travel bans, and stay-at-home orders triggered a severe disruption in the economy with tourism coming to a standstill in Dhofar since March 2020. 

However, after the Supreme Committee eased restrictions last month, allowing vaccinated citizens and residents to enter Dhofar, several tourist spots in Salalah are witnessing heavy rush. Majority of the hotels in Dhofar Governorate has been fully booked for the next few weeks after the committee allowed the hotel facilities to operate at 75 per cent capacity. “The tourism industry in Dhofar still reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic, the sector has picked up in the last one month, with more visitors heading to Salalah,” says Mohammed Al Tobi, a local tour operator. 

International travellers who are fully vaccinated with two doses of approved vaccines can also visit Salalah. “Hospitality is a robust sector, and once travellers start their trips again in full confidence, bouncing back will be faster and quicker,” Al Tobi adds. 

Sreeraj Nair who runs business in Dhofar said he is thrilled to see Salalah back in its old charm. “This time last year we were sitting idly at home without any business. Now slowly things are getting back to normal. We thank the Supreme Committee for easing restrictions,” Nair says.   

With temperatures at 20 Degrees in most parts of Dhofar, Mohammed Azhar, a young travel expert in Salalah says citizens and residents in other Wilayats must visit Salalah to encourage the tourism industry. “We were really hit last year because Khareef was cancelled and lockdown affected a lot of small time entrepreneurs. People from every other parts of Oman must come and visit Salalah if they are vaccinated and support our tourism,” he says.   

Meanwhile, as part of promoting Dhofar as a tourist destination, Sohar Airport has been opened after closing it for almost one year. SalamAir will operate four weekly flights to Salalah from Sohar.