Even as the rest of the country is grappling with a heat wave, Salalah experienced its first showers which brought the temperature down from 39°C to pleasant 31°C.
Sunday morning’s rain marked the arrival of the monsoon (khareef season). While the residents are expecting a pleasant season, hoteliers in Salalah are hoping for high occupancy rates.
Faysal Ahmed, a student said, “I always get excited when clouds engulf the sky in south Oman. It is like a scene from a movie; people rejoice as they have been waiting for this season the whole year.” Ameera Qataan, another resident, said, “Ramadan is more delightful as we experienced the first showers. “The entire atmosphere changes in Ramadan and the khareef season. We have the mist, Salalah festival and vacation for children. Everyone is delighted that the khareef season and Ramadan are coinciding again this year.”
The first sign of the khareef season has brought smiles on the faces of hotel operators too. Manuel Levonian, general manager, Crowne Plaza Salalah said, “The first rains hit the city on Sunday and the temperature has dropped too. We are expecting a good season this year since the number of flights from Doha and Dubai to Salalah has increased. Advanced bookings are much better than last year.”
He added, “We are currently promoting a Ramadan package which includes a room, suhoor and iftar for RO55. We would like people to come and avail the offer as the season has crept in faster this year. We are expecting occupancy rates to climb quickly in a week’s time.” A representative from the Salalah Marriott Resort said, “We are expecting the occupancy rate to be over 90 per cent this khareef season based on the traffic on our website. Our customers are mostly from Saudi Arabia and Qatar besides local tourists.”
She added, “The temperatures are dipping and we are gearing up for the season. We are running an offer named ‘Stay 3, Pay 2’.” During the khareef season, lush greenery covers Dhofar, with white fog kissing the hills. Every year, thousands of GCC nationals and citizens from north of Oman flock to Salalah to escape the heat.
Source: MuscatDaily