Tourists, business return to Muttrah with cruise season

Tourists, business return to Muttrah with cruise season

Muscat – There was a buzz in the air in Muttrah Corniche as the German cruise ship AIDAcosma docked at Sultan Qaboos Port on Monday. Muttrah Souq came alive with shopkeepers’ irresistible sales pitches, friendly banter with customers and popping camera flashes.

The European tourists engaged in striking bargains for souvenirs, abayas, kumahs, bukhur and dates.

Salim Balushi, who has been selling frankincense in the souq for over ten years, said, “In the last couple of years, we only saw a trickle of western tourists. There were no cruises. But now cruise season is back and we are once again seeing ships with a number of tourists.”

He is happy with his shop’s sales in the past few weeks. “Germans love Omani frankincense and I have sold stock sourced from Salalah, which is quite popular among them.”

German couple Marita and Tuergen, who visited Oman before the pandemic, were thrilled to be back. “Nothing has changed in Oman. The big welcome and warmth of the people is intact. Also, there is no pollution in the skies and water,” Marita said.

Having bought abayas for her next trip to Abu Dhabi, she said, “Prices of some items, like luban and bukhur, have increased a good deal.”

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