Muscat: The month-long Muscat Festival 2016 drew to a close on Saturday amid great fanfare.
The festival, themed as “live Oman” which began on January 15, offered slew of entertainment activities, cultural shows, fashion shows, food festival, dazzling laser shows, fireworks, shopping and Omani heritage.
Cool weather added more fun to the festival.
According to the organisers, there was a huge turnout to witness the extravaganza. An official at Muscat Municipality told Gulf News that the number of visitors exceeded two million this year. Hotel occupancy reached 100 per cent in Muscat governorate after the start of the festival, the official added.
More than 1,000 participants, including international bands and performers, from different countries took part in the events in Amerat Park, Naseem Park, Oman Automobile Club, Al Madinah Amphitheatre and the Cultural Club.
The festival also coincided with school vacation as well as tourism season boosting visitor traffic at festival venues.
Ahmad Al Mamari, a father of five, told Gulf News that his children enjoyed the activities at both Amerat and Naseem Parks. Al Mamari said such event allowed his family to have wholesome fun without the need to go abroad.
Furthermore, organisers said the festival boosted economic activities through tourism.
The Muscat Festival 2016 was aired on international media through Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, MBC1, OMAN TV and Majan channels, radio channels as well as local and international newspapers.
The Tour of Oman, a premier sporting event of the Muscat Festival 2016, which is in its eighth edition, will be held from February 16 to February 21.
As many as 144 cyclists from 18 teams will cover 915 kilometres in the race that will pass through tourist, heritage and cultural landmarks in the country.
Muscat Festival 2015 attracted more than 1.7 million visitors in 2015.
