Muscat: Buoyed by the success of the first edition, the Ministry of Tourism is gearing up to launch the second edition of its Tourist Camping Exhibition.

General of Investor Services and Quality Management, Ministry of Tourism, indicated that the total number of camps across different governorates in 2019 reached 22 with a total of 603 rooms.

North Al Sharqiyah governorate, according to these statistics, was the first in terms of the number of camps. The number of these tourist camps reached 13 which had 399 rooms. It is followed by the South Al-Sharqiyah governorate where there were five camps with 94 rooms during this period. Then was Al-Dakhiliya governorate which had two camps with a total 45 rooms. There was one camp each in Dhofar and South Al- Bathinah governorates with p15 and 50 rooms respectively.

Realising that there is a great demand for camping tourism in this period in various parts of the Sultanate, particularly after the rains of last few months, the Ministry of tourism is preparing to launch the second edition of the Tourism Camping Exhibition. These rains led to covering of most of the areas with greenery, which made the atmosphere appropriate for camping.

Ahmad bin Said Al Bahri, the organiser of the tourism events at the Ministry of Tourism, said that the ministry was gearing up to launch the second edition of the tourism camping exhibition. This is due to the success of the first edition of the exhibition, which had massive participation of various organisations, companies and entrepreneurs.

The Ministry is also working on a plan to establish marketing outlets with the help of the companies, which work in the area to serve entrepreneurs, and companies in the tourism sector. These outlets would provide them information, facilities and do marketing of their services to strengthen the tourism sector in Oman.

He said: The Ministry wants to serve the institutions concerned with the tourism sector by organising such exhibitions. It believes that it was important to encourage and support tourism projects and business leaders working in the field of organising tours and selling camping supplies and gears. The ministry also wants to encourage domestic tourism to focus on the tourism potential of Oman.

The Ministry of Tourism has recently organised a tourism camping exhibition to promote this type of tourist activity in the Sultanate. A large number of camping enthusiasts and 14 companies participated. Various camping supplies and gears were displayed and visitors also got information about the organisations and firms which provide these facilities and organise excursions.

Humaid Al Hajri, the owner of Al Birr camp in wilayat Bidiya of the North Al Sahrqiyah governorate, said that there was a huge tourists’ influx between October and the end of April. These camps have a prominent role in stimulating the tourism activity, as the number of tourist camps has recently increased significantly. It has helped in promotion of desert tourism. It indicated that the camp owners made huge efforts to provide suitable accommodation for the tourist. This has contributed in an increased number of visitors to these camps.

This resulted in making the region attractive for the tourists from all around the world. The number of tourists coming here is rising every year and the number of the tourists camps and green inns are also going up significantly.

Al Hajri says that the Ministry of Tourism was making concrete efforts to promote and encourage tourism activities and projects of the Sultanate. It is also helping the internal tourism in the country.

Al Hajri said that the goal of establishing Al Birr camp was to give the tourists an opportunity to experience life in the desert, sleep in a tent, and enjoy the components of nature and natural environment away from the hassle of urban life. He said that the camp provides simple and distinct services, which is different from staying in a hotel in stay overnight and food.

For camping enthusiasts and desert excursions, the Al-Sharqiyah sands are one of the suitable destinations for enjoyment and adventure. Al-Sharqiyah sands extend to include wilayat Bidiya, Al-Kamil Wal-Wafi and Al-Mudhaibi. They are among the beautiful and famous places in the Sultanate to camp and enjoy moderate desert atmosphere and magical sky at night.

There is huge growth in these areas due to influx of tourists. This is different from other parts of the Sultanate in nature and Omani heritage, folk-arts, handicrafts and other elements, which make it popular among Omani and foreign tourists.

The ready-to-rent camps spread across the area are ready to serve tourists. It shows that this place is popular among tourists.

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