Dubai, UAE, January 24, 2017:  Oman is reinforcing its position as a year-round visitor destination in the GCC with ongoing attractions through the year – the most recent being the Muscat Festival, which will run from 19 January to 11 February.

One of the longest running festivals in the Sultanate, it aims to celebrate the country’s fascinating history, traditional arts and culture, food and warm hospitality.
The festival is held at the popular Naseem Gardens and Al Amerat Park, and will feature a host of activities for the whole family. Al Amerat Park will also host a heritage village, which will provide a glimpse of traditional Omani heritage and lifestyle.

Salim Al Mamari, Director General of Tourism Promotion - Oman Ministry of Tourism said: “We are delighted to welcome another edition of the hugely popular Muscat Festival that offers visitors a slice of true Omani heritage and hospitality. Oman’s repute as a premier family and leisure destination in the region continues to grow and we are very pleased that the Muscat Festival has become an annual feature for many visiting tourists to Oman looking to experience our very unique country.” 

Last year, the festival attracted over 2 million visitors – a large number of whom were from the neighbouring GCC countries and the expectation is that the festival could exceed last year’s visitor numbers. 

The festival has traditionally featured a mix of leading Arab and Asian music artists who have enthralled audiences with their vibrant performances.

Al Amerat Park has also traditionally hosted live performances from folk groups, an open theatre, a local arts and crafts fair while Naseem Garden has featured a children's theatre, an illuminated village and firework shows in the evenings.

Oman’s tourism sector has been growing at a rapid rate and tourism is set to be one of the key pillars for economic growth in the Sultanate as the country looks at diversifying its economy away from oil. The ambitious new tourism strategy for Oman plans to grow international visitor numbers to 5.3 million by 2040.