I thought this was interesting, especially that the hotels were 100% full acording to the highlighted area.

Tourist sites ready to welcome visitors

Muscat Daily staff writer

November 30, 2015

Muscat -

Tourist sites and hotels across the country are ready to welcome thousands of visitors during the 45th National Day holidays starting from Wednesday.

The holidays coincide with the cool weather as residents and citizens are gearing up to visit beaches, mountains, wadis and forts in large numbers, a press release stated.

A Ministry of Tourism (MoT) official said that bookings in hotels have touched 100 per cent during this holiday season.

To cater to tourist rush, the National Ferries Company (NFC) has announced increase in tours from Muscat to Musandam and Shannah to Masirah.

Nabhan bin Hamad al Nahani, director of Public Relations and Information, NFC, said that the trips have been increased to boost tourism, business and movement of people along the coast of the sultanate.

He added that the company is running extra trips between Muscat and Khasab to cater to the holiday rush. “Each trip accommodates 208 travellers and 56 cars. We offer free Wi-Fi, meals and soft drinks to make the journey as comfortable as possible. The trip between Shinas and Khasab accommodates 106 travellers and 20 cars.”

Nahani said that trips between Shannah and Masirah will be increased from eight to 12 a day depending upon the rush.

NFC has increased the number of trips on the Shinas-Dibba-Khasab route to nine, and the Lima-Dibba route to six.

Hamdan al Hagary, owner and director of Arabian Oryx Camp, said that bookings have reached more than 80 per cent. Hagary said that the camp is well-prepared to welcome more visitors who will arrive with their 4WDs.

Arabian Oryx Camp is located in the wilayat of Bidiyah in North Sharqiyah governorate.

The Ras al Hadd sanctuary in the wilayat of Sur is also expected to witness significant number of tourists during the holidays. Bader al Sinani, director of Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve said that visitor numbers are high during weekends but it is going to peak during the holidays. Fakry Hindia, general manager of Crowne Plaza Hotel in Duqm, said that the hotel has made all preparations to welcome visitors.