ITTN’s Shane Cullen interviews Sajda Rashid AlGhaithi, Director of Tourism & Marketing Development at Experience Oman, during their first visit to Ireland as they showcase the best of the destination and why Oman should be top of travellers’ lists.
With pristine beaches, magnificent deserts, rugged mountains, a history that spans over 7,000 years, as well as gorgeous boutique hotels, desert camps and eco-resorts, this may be the next hot destination for the avid traveller.
Oman is a country of breathtaking natural beauty, history and legends. As the oldest independent state in the Arab World, Oman has embraced modernisation and progress while retaining the core aspects of its culture and heritage, making it the perfect travel destination for those seeking an authentic Arabian experience.
Oman’s culture is deeply rooted in the Sultanate’s proud heritage and history of seafaring, trading and exploration. Today, long-standing traditions blend seamlessly with modern-day living. Omanis are very welcoming of visitors from other countries, a fact that is reflected in the generous hospitality extended to guests.
Sajda Rashid AlGhaithi, Director of Tourism & Marketing Development at Experience Oman
Sajda Rashid AlGhaithi, Director of Tourism & Marketing Development at Experience Oman, looks after marketing at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism. She is in Ireland on the first Irish roadshow with Finn Partners, who represented them in the UK and Ireland.
She shares, “We’re really excited to be in Dublin because it’s one of the new markets for Oman. And, we are looking forward to a full-year plan for Ireland to promote Oman as a tourism destination. Also, to make sure that there’s enough awareness about Oman as a tourism destination.”
“We know that sometimes there is this perception that Oman is like Dubai or like any other of the neighbouring countries. For Oman, we know that we have something very special. We have some great experiences, and we are trying to promote certain elements of Oman.”
Adventure Tourism in Oman
“Let me say Adventure Tourism is a big thing for Oman. We have amazing mountains. We have the beaches. We have different natural beauty in different regions. It’s not only Muscat which is the capital. There’s also Ad Dakhiliyah, where we have Jebel Akhdar, which is a mountain. Even now, when it’s a bit warm in Muscat, the weather is really nice in the mountains.“
The Jebel Akhdar mountain range is about 2 hours from Muscat. Whether a day trip or an overnight visit, the area offers excellent hiking options, breathtaking views and landscapes.
Oman is the land of adventures, starting from exploring the Hoota Cave, going through the experience of zip-lining in Musandam, hiking on the Riam Walkway or going through metal wires in Wadi Bani Auf. Also, diving into the depths of the ocean to enjoy seeing colourful coral reefs and rare fish in the Daymaniyat Islands, sailing in kayaks, sailboats, and jet skis, to camping under the star-studded sky in the sands of the East. Witnessing the towering rocky mountains with green terraced fields built by early Omanis, attending camel races on the fringes of the desert, or riding camels, observing sea turtles as they lay their eggs and head towards the sea and even swimming in the clear waters of flowing wadis (valleys) are experiences that make a journey unforgettable.
The Land of Frankincense
“We also have, in the south of Oman, the region of Dhofar. Dhofar is enjoying really nice weather now because it’s affected by Khareef season. Khareef season is like Monsoon, but in a very positive way. We get a lot of rain, and it’s really green everywhere – the mountains are green.”
Dhofar is known for its natural beauty and is “the Land of Frankincense“. Here, the frankincense trees of Wadi Dawkah and the remains of the caravan oasis of Shisr/Wubar, along with the ports of Khor Rori and Al-Baleed, are classed as a UNESCO heritage site. This area shows the centuries of trade that flourished here through the ages. This was part of the “Silk Road” with artefacts from the Ming dynasty. Frankincense, which many of us would associate with the Nativity at Christmas, was one of the most important trading activities of the ancient and medieval world. In fact, the resin from the trees is still harvested here to this day.
She added, “Most Omanis and even neighbouring countries like the GCCs [GCC member countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE] escape the heat by going to the south of Oman.”
Khareef season, particularly in the Dhofar region, typically stretches from late June to early September. This is a popular time for tourism in the South of Oman, where people flock to the transformed landscape. The dry terrain turns into a lush green landscape with cooler temperatures (20-27 degrees Celsius), misty mountains and spectacular waterfalls.
First Time in Ireland
This is Experience Oman’s first time in Ireland. We’ve crossed paths at World Travel Market in London, though it is wonderful to see this destination being promoted in Ireland, to the Irish market. And this is just the start. Expect to see more of them in the coming months with the team meeting with travel agencies and opportunities for fam trips to experience the country’s tourism offering.
Sajda explains they have been very well received thus far and are excited to promote Oman, for travel agents to experience it themselves, to have more events and spread the word of how wonderful a place it is.
The Typical Tourist in Oman
When asked about the typical tourist travelling to Oman, Sajda explained that visitors don’t usually spend a lot of time in the capital, Muscat. Sajda suggests tourists could come to Oman for 7-10 days. This way they can spend a few days in Muscat and then also journey “ to Sharqiyah where you can enjoy the the deserts and the camps in the desert and then you can go to Ad Dakhiliyah which is the mountains and then enjoy some time there and then you can enjoy also Musandam, which is in the north.”
Musandam is a mountainous Omani peninsula that juts out into the Strait of Hormuz, which is the gateway to the Persian Gulf. It is separated from the rest of Oman by the UAE. It is renowned for pristine beaches, dramatic fjords, vast marine life, spectacular scenery and is called the “Norway of the Middle East”.
Describing Msandam, Sajda shares that “there are beautiful, beautiful resorts there. You can have the beach for yourself. It’s really quiet and you can enjoy some luxury and relaxation.”
She explained that the tourism industry is a focus for the government, so there is considerable investment resulting in an exceptional luxury offering for guests to enjoy.
Fly-Drive in Oman & Solo Travellers
Answering whether fly-drive is a trend in the country, Sajda highlighted how Oman “is an incredibly safe country. It’s very safe and you can self-drive. We’re also seeing a trend of solo travellers who come to Oman. And you know, because they feel safe, they can rent a car, they can drive by themselves, so they really enjoy it. We’re also seeing a trend of younger age groups of travellers coming to Oman. We used to have an older group coming to Oman, enjoying relaxation and staying in a resort. Now, we are seeing a younger group of travellers because we are trying to promote the experiences, so that is the current trend.”
Oman for Winter Sun or Summer Value
When asked about their busiest time of year, Sajda explained, “We’re really excited about the winter season and we would like people to come and enjoy their holidays… [the busiest season] starts from October to April, where people really come to Oman and enjoy that season. It’s beautiful. Beautiful because you can do many outdoor activities at that time, and you can enjoy the weather.”
Asked about summer travel and a value offering off-season, Sajda shared that if you were to travel in the summertime, you would benefit from off-peak prices and you could enjoy Khareef season and the other parts of Oman. Overall, the most popular months to visit Oman are November to March. Sajda explained that she connected through Abu Dhabi with Qatar Airways. This gives travellers a chance to stopover at Zayed International Airport or plan a multi-centre holiday.
Find Out More
Sajda invited those interested in learning more to visit ExperienceOman.om follow Experience Oman on their social media accounts. Equally, stay tuned to ITTN for more from this exciting destination.
