Saturday 04 / May / 2024
Muscat: The number of tourists who visited Jabal Akhdar between January and December 2018 reached 226,487. Jabal Akhdar is a preferred tourist destination, especially during the winter.
It is one of the most important tourist destinations in the Sultanate, where the number of tourists is increasing year by year. This is due to the influx of European tourists who want to spend a pleasant time in the mountains and enjoy the cool climate of Jabal Akhdar.
Jabal Akhdar emerged as one of the most preferred tourist destinations in the Sultanate during the winter season between the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. This is because of the pleasant weather and the exceptional harmony between the mountains, trees, plants and the villages situated below.
A couple from London said: “We are visiting the Sultanate for the first time. We are here to enjoy the wonderful weather and participate in a number of beautiful activities. The hotel we are staying at is very impressive and the views from the hotel are amazing. We visited some villages in the surrounding areas during a tour arranged by the hotel. We spent a wonderful time here and would definitely visit Oman again.”
“We are here in Jabal Akhdar to enjoy our winter holidays. Winter is the perfect time to visit this country where the temperature is moderate and does not dip to an inconvenient level,” said Michelle from Belgium.
She added, “We took a hassle-free journey to Jabal Akhdar, where the roads to our destination were perfect; the people here are very friendly. We recommend a visit to Oman, particularly during the winter season so that one can enjoy the natural beauty of this country.”
The winter tourism season certainly gives a big boost to the hotels and resorts in Jabal Akhdar, in terms of high occupancy rates. The hotels, on their part, organise many activities, tours and entertainment programmes for their guests. The programmes include those within the city and on the mountains. They also arrange visits to beaches and cruises. The tourists are greeted with local traditional hospitality, convenient transportation options, luxury hotels and tasty food.
Tourist destinations
Azhar bin Khalfan Al Tobi, Assistant Director at the Department of Tourism of Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, said that Jabal Akhdar was one of the most important tourist destinations, particularly during the winter, because of its unique atmosphere and geological formations, which attract tourists.
He said that the ministry was currently working on the development of the mountain tracks of Jabal Akhdar to ensure that the entire area is easily accessible.
Manal bint Mubarak Al Shuraiqiyah, an environmental expert at the Ministry of Tourism in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, said that once a tourist arrives at the information centre at the entrance of the mountain, he or she is provided with information, brochures and publications about the nature of the mountain. This is to help him/her during the journey.
She added that the low temperatures and some of the agricultural crops such as roses and olives, in addition to ancient villages near the mountain have helped attract tourists from various European and Arab countries.
About environmental awareness, she said that the ministry has compiled leaflets and placed signboards on the sides of the road leading to the mountain to create environmental awareness about the area and other tourist destinations of the governorate, particularly the camps.
Rajaa Obaid, Assistant Manager of Anantara Hotel & Resort in Jabal Akhdar, said that the hotel was considered the highest one on the mountain. It is situated at a height of about 2,000 metres above sea level.
It has 115 hotel rooms, of which 32 are overlooking the cliff. The hotel is full of tourists of different nationalities, including American, Austrian, British and French. Obaid also spoke about the activities the resort offered, such as visiting Aflaj and nearby villages, the introduction of local culture such as environmental agriculture, introducing tourists to natural components, and walking and climbing the slopes of the mountain.
Adventure tourism
Salem Al Suwaimari, an employee of the Alila Resort in Jabal Akhdar, said that the mountain was one of the most important eco-tourism and adventure tourism areas in the Sultanate. Tourist can enjoy various activities such as horse riding, exploring wadis and visiting caves, and walking a certain distance on top of the mountain, hiking and camping. He said that these natural elements were preserved over many years for sustainable tourism.
Tourist experience
Speaking about his experience in Jabal Akhdar, a Lebanese tourist said: “Once we arrived in the Sultanate, we visited the National Museum and other places such as markets and traditional souqs before going to Jabal Akhdar. The Omani people impressed us with their hospitality and dignity. We then started wandering about in the mountains and saw nature. We spent a nice time walking in the area. We think that Jabal Akhdar is a tourist destination with unlimited splendour.”
Walid Saif, an Egyptian tourist who was staying at the Anantara Hotel of Jabal Akhdar, said, “This is my first visit to Jabal Akhdar. The beautiful nature and warmth of the sun were healing.” He further said that he spent his time on the mountain, walking around and taking photos of scenic landscapes. He appreciated the investment of the Ministry of Tourism in the establishment of hotels and resorts, which makes the area attractive for tourism.
Ali Al Jani, an employee of the marketing and public relations team of Anantara Hotel in Jabal Akhdar, said: “Jabal Akhdar is a special tourist destination in the Sultanate and the entire Arabian Gulf region in particular.” He said that the mountain has a special climate during all seasons, cold at night and warm during the day. “During winter, the temperature reaches 30 degrees Celsius, which helps while roaming around the agricultural areas and villages adjacent to the mountain and learning about the local culture and agricultural products. Our objective is to promote the natural and ecological tourism that is available on the mountains. It is mixed with luxury and traditional Omani hospitality.”
Arif Bin Yaqoub Al Sariri, one of the managers of Alila Hotel in Jabal Akhdar, talked about mountain tourism during the winter. He said that tourism during this season includes various activities such as climbing, walking, cycling, enjoying the tranquility and watching nature amidst the fresh air, and visiting the old buildings nearby, which were built with the stones of the mountain more than 150 years ago.
Winter is one of the most popular seasons for European tourists to explore the attractions spread across the Sultanate, which is known for its breathtaking scenery, culture and traditions, accompanied with the generosity of its people.
