Preparations for Empty Quarter Festival begin in Dhofar

Oman Tuesday 17/January/2023 18:11 PM
By: Times News Service
Preparations for Empty Quarter Festival begin in Dhofar
The Directorate General of Heritage and Tourism is preparing to hold the Empty Quarter Festival.

Salalah: The Directorate General of Heritage and Tourism in the Governorate of Dhofar will organise during 25 January till 3 February, the Empty Quarter Festival in Al Shasr area of the Wilayat of Thumrait.

The festival fits with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism’s plan to make Dhofar a sustainable tourism destination throughout the year.

Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Abri, Director General of the Directorate General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar Governorate, said in an interview that the festival will host a set of heritage, tourism, entertainment and sports activities, in addition to organising challenge competitions and local bazaars.

He added, “The Empty Quarter Festival will be held in the Al Khadf area in Niyabat Al-Shasr in the Wilayat of Thumrait, which has been known throughout the history as the gateway to the Empty Quarter desert and is distinguished by its soft sands and attractive tourism sites, noting that the period of holding the festival corresponds to the influx of international and domestic tourism in this tourist season.”

He stressed the Directorate’s endeavour to place this festival on the map of regional tourism festivals, which qualifies it to host the World Desert Championships and stimulates the desire of tourism partners to support and sponsor the festival, which brings economic and marketing returns to the Sultanate of Oman.

He explained that the festival oasis is the main station at which all services, various events and public facilities will be available for visitors, including mobile vehicles for entrepreneurs, the heritage village will contain an exhibition of handicrafts, a corner for families, and a square for traditional events.