The Sultanate of Oman officially announced the start of the Khareef season from June 21. There has been high anticipation this year because of the extensive events planned by the local authorities to attract both domestic and international tourists buoyed by the response in 2023.
Regional airlines have announced their schedules to operate direct flights to Salalah from their respective countries.
The hospitality industry and the travel industry are not behind and have lined up several special packages.
Some hotels and hotel apartments have also undergone major renovations in anticipation of tourists who are expected to come in large numbers, with families.
People from the GCC flock to Salalah because of its relatively cool climate, occasional drizzles, green cover, cloud formations, and early morning formations.
At the time of writing, the Khareef climate is yet to set in the Dhofar Governorate, especially in the plains, with daily maximum temperatures in the range of around 32°C, and minimum temperatures around 27 to 30°C.
These temperatures are still relatively pleasant and bearable for those traveling to Salalah from Muscat, Dubai, Riyadh, or Kuwait, where day temperatures are constantly above 45°C.
In that sense, Salalah is a worthy option, and we can hope for temperatures to calm down in the coming weeks if not days.
But our concern is in the right place because 2023 was seen as the hottest year of recent years, and 2024 looks no better.
Many tourist markets, such as those in Thailand, Greece, and Turkey, have been reportedly hit due to heatwaves.
Another example is that over 1,000 people lost their lives due to heatwaves during the recent Haj in Saudi Arabia.
In layman’s language, these are direct impacts of global warming and climate change,and we are just clueless about how to deal with it if things start getting worse in the coming years.
High temperatures virtually give no scope for outdoor activities and adventures.
Even now, venturing into waters has been prohibited on beaches of Salalah due to rising levels.
Tourism is also key to job creation because it provides direct or indirect jobs to over 300 million people worldwide, besides contributing significantly to the country's GDP.
According to a study by the University of Cambridge, as temperatures and sea levels rise, the attractiveness of many destinations will fade.
More importantly, coastal tourism forms nearly 60 per cent of the global tourism industry.
Sustainable measures to mitigate the impact of climate change will not give immediate results but it can be an important step for the future.
Measures include switching to electric-powered vehicles, zero use of plastic, wastage of water and electricity, and what more. The focus should be on walking instead of burning fuel.
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