
Oman: Over 32,000 visitors explore Wadi Bani Khalid during Eid holiday
Muscat – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) has said that the popular tourist destination Wadi Bani Khalid drew a huge crowd during the Eid al Fitr holiday with 32,142 people visiting the place between March 30 and April 5.
According to MHT, the visitors included 1,080 Omanis, 1,440 Europeans, 28,626 Asians, and 996 other Arabs. During the holiday period, rescue teams assisted in the safe recovery of 14 individuals from drowning incidents.
The popular destination, 203km from Muscat – located in North Sharqiyah – drew visitors from around the region to enjoy its natural beauty, year-round flowing waters and tranquil atmosphere. Visitors like to explore its geological wonders, including the Maql Cave and 12 natural springs, such as Ain al Sarooj, Ain al Lathb, Ain Kanara, Ain al Muntajar, and Ain Ghalala.
The area is also home to 56 aflaj, with notable ones including Al Haili, Al Fardh, Al Sarooj, and Al Jarbi. In addition to its natural attractions, the wilayat boasts a rich history.
© Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Today
12 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Europe bakes in summer's first heatwave as continent warms
Southern Europeans braced on Saturday for their first heatwave of the northern hemisphere summer, as climate change pushes thermometers on the world's fastest-warming continent increasingly into the red. Temperatures are set to rise to 37˚C in Rome, driving the Eternal City's many tourists and pilgrims towards the Italian capital's 2,500 public fountains for refreshment. With residents of the southern French port city of Marseille expected to have to cope with temperatures flirting with 40˚C, the city's authorities ordered public swimming pools be free of charge to help residents beat the Mediterranean heat. Two-thirds of Portugal will be on high alert on Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires, with 42˚C expected in the capital Lisbon, while visitors to — and protesters against — Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos's Friday wedding in Venice likewise sweltered under the summer sun. "There is no wind, a lot of humidity, we are sweating, and I'm suffocating at night," Alejandra Echeverria, a 40-year-old Mexican tourist to Venice, told AFP on Saturday. "I try not to think about it, but I drink a lot of water and never stay still, because that's when you get sunstroke," Sriane Mina, an Italian student, told AFP the day before. Scientists have long warned that humanity's burning of fossil fuels is heating up the world with disastrous consequences for the environment, with Europe's ever-hotter and increasingly common blistering summer heatwaves a direct result of that warming. The heatwave is forecast to become even more intense on Sunday. Spain, which has in past years seen a series of deadly summer blazes, is expecting peak temperatures in excess of 40C (104F) across most of the country. According to the Spanish meteorological agency, temperatures may even register 42˚C in some areas, including the Guadalquivir, Guadiana, and Tagus regions. The past three years have been the hottest in Spain's history. With peaks of 39˚C expected in Palermo, Sicily has ordered a ban on outdoor work in the hottest hours of the day, as has the Liguria region in northern Italy. The country's trade unions are campaigning to extend the measure to other parts of the country. In Nice, where the mercury hit 33˚C at midday, residents and tourists sought refuge in misted parks and museums. "We're not going to stay cooped up all day," said one retiree resting in the shaded Promenade du Paillon, a central greenway. Families with young children flocked to water jets and cooling sprays. "We live in a city-centre flat without a pool, and the sea is tricky with a two-year-old," said Florence Oleari, a 35-year-old GP. At the Albert I garden, organisers of a triathlon to be held on Sunday briefed 4,000 competitors on emergency measures, including ice stations and electrolyte stations. "If I feel unwell, I'll stop," said Frederic Devroye, a participant who travelled from Brussels for the triathlon, which includes a 3.8 km swim, a 180 km cycle with 2,600 m of elevation, and — to top it off — a marathon. Local authorities have distributed nearly 250 fans to schools over the past fortnight, while tourists like Jean-Luc Idczak opted to explore Nice's air-conditioned museums to keep cool. "With this weather, it's perfect," he said as he entered the city's photography museum. In Seville, where forecasts suggested temperatures could reach up to 43 degrees Celcius, locals and tourists used handheld fans and caps to shield themselves from heat. "Lots of cream, sun protection, on the face, everywhere, and very light clothing," said Marta Corona, a 60-year-old tourist holding a fan. "People come asking for water and drinks, that's what sells, because with this heat you have to cope somehow," said Fernando Serrano, a 69-year-old kiosk owner at his stand. The heatwave comes hot on the heels of a series of tumbling records, including Europe's hottest March ever, according to the EU's Copernicus climate monitor. According to Copernicus and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Europe has been warming at roughly twice the global average since the 1980s. As a result of the planet's warming, extreme weather events including hurricanes, droughts, floods and heatwaves like this weekend's have become more frequent and intense, scientists warn. By some estimates 2024, the hottest year in recorded history so far, saw worldwide disasters that cost more than $300 billion. Agence France-Presse


Zawya
17-06-2025
- Zawya
Oman's tourism sector attracts $6.7bln in investments
Muscat – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) has attracted investments worth RO2.59bn in the tourism sector during the period 2021–25, reinforcing Oman's goal of becoming a leading tourism destination in the region. Amira bint Iqbal al Lawati, Director General of Tourism Development at the ministry, said the investments are part of a national programme that aims to secure RO3bn in private sector funding for tourism by the end of 2025. As part of this strategy, the ministry has increased the signing of usufruct contracts for tourism-related land in different governorates, allowing long-term use by investors. These agreements are seen as a key tool to drive investment and improve the quality of tourism services across the sultanate. Amira noted that these efforts align with Oman's Tenth Five-Year Plan (2021–25) and wider sustainable development goals. From January 2024 to the end of May 2025, the ministry signed 45 usufruct contracts, including 14 this year alone. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


Zawya
16-06-2025
- Zawya
Oman: Muscat airport traffic falls; Salalah sees modest growth
Muscat – The total number of passengers passing through Oman's airports from January to April this year reached 4,701,055, marking a 4.1% drop compared to the same period last year when the figure stood at 4,901,855. Data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information showed that Muscat International Airport handled 4,222,789 passengers by the end of April, down 4.7% from 4,428,726 a year ago. Flights through Muscat also declined by 8.6% to 29,731, from 32,520 in the same period of 2024. In contrast, Salalah Airport recorded a 6.8% increase in passenger numbers, reaching 458,394 by April, up from 429,181 last year. However, the total number of flights dipped slightly by 0.2% to 2,974. Sohar Airport also saw sharp decline both in flight operations and the number of passengers reaching there by air. The number of flights in Suhar dropped by 62.5% to 72 from 192, while passenger numbers plummeted by 98.7% to just 307, compared to 23,842 last year. Duqm Airport also reported a slight decrease. Flights fell 1.9% to 204, while passengers dropped 2.7% to 19,565, down from 20,106. At Muscat International Airport, Indian nationals remained the largest group of travellers, with 182,628 passengers recorded till April this year. Omanis were the second most travellers with 101,087, followed by Pakistanis with 47,078 passengers. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (