The six-week festival of imposing and opulent celebrations offers, on a soul-stirring canvas, some unparalleled and unique glimpses of the stunning and rich developments the Sultanate has achieved during the prosperous era of the past 40 years.

Salalah Tourism Festival, an indigenous fiesta that is quintessentially Omani, is a true reflection of the Sultanate's rich and diverse heritage as much as it is a celebration of the seasonal cycle of monsoon that turns the region in Dhofar governorate lush green. A festival that is so colorful and vibrant has, over the years, grown perceptibly in popularity and yet has successfully maintained its very grassroots feel.

Offering the best of Oman, the festival's influence on the people of the Sultanate is immense, fascinating and most profound. Touching almost everyone, irrespective of their nationality, it offers a fascinating fusion and a perfect harmony of multiracial populace with well-preserved Omani and Arabic heritage.

The three words "Salalah Tourism Festival" taken together today symbolize boundless love and giving - the very essence of Omani psyche and culture. Life exudes in myriads of activities, color and mirth during the festival and when it draws to an end it leaves behind a yarning for more. The countdown for the next year's festival virtually starts the very moment the curtain draws on the event. A patient wait begins for the next year.

The event has not only become a forum to showcase the rich Omani culture and heritage. It is an event that has turned into a symbol of Oman's pride and a celebration that capsules the true spirit and soul of the Sultanate's renaissance. It is a much-awaited event for every single citizen and resident of the Sultanate, which over the years has carved a niche position for itself in the world's calendar of events through sheer hard, smart and excellent work.

And rightly do the people of Oman take immense pride in organizing such successful event, year after year. It is, in fact, their tremendous cumulative effort that has ensured the success of such a marvelous yet challenging event.

We take this opportunity to salute every single individual who has contributed in making the Salalah Tourism Festival such a roaring success. Running and organizing a celebration of such an enormous magnitude is not child's play. We salute all those who by their sheer hard work make us all feel proud and say with dignity, contentment and pride, "This is our beloved country. This is our uniqueness among the nations".

It gives us significant satisfaction when we receive words and gestures of appreciations from every single tourist and visitor who return to their native countries with a feeling that says: "We were fascinated with what we have seen and with the uniqueness of the Sultanate, particularly in the Salalah Tourism Festival." This also makes us feel more responsible and steels us in our determination to keep up the show in all its grandeur, magnitude sans snags.

The three words "Salalah Tourism Festival" are indeed the three most glittering words written in gold - not just any gold but of the purest and best found in the Sultanate. 

A few days ago, Sultan Qaboos bin Said issued a royal order for setting up the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah in the Governorate of Dhofar. The royal grant sanctioned for the establishment of the complex aims at development of the nation's youth - both boys and girls and coincided with the 40th anniversary of the blessed Renaissance Day on July 23.

The sanction of the royal grant for an all round and comprehensive development of the youth in Oman aims at creating an appropriate genius loci for optimum, meaningful and creative utilization of leisure of the nation's youth. The royal grant, sanctioned for the creation of the complex, is yet another addition to the long list of achievements the nation has clocked during the course of its prosperity in the past 40 years. 

A precious gift indeed from the wise leadership of his majesty to the governorate of Dhofar, the complex will certainly be a major boost and encouragement for the youths of Salalah and Dhofar as much as a great token of nation's appreciation for their activities and contributions toward making the annual Salalah event grand success year after year.

The complex will augment youth activities in the region and governorate, which, in turn, will augur well for the Salalah event. Encouraged and buoyed by the wonderful gift, the youth in Dhofar are expected to come forward more creatively and meaningfully in taking the Salalah festival to higher levels of excellence and perfection. The complex, we are sure, will not only hone up the individual skills of the youth but shall bring out the best leadership qualities in them.

The festival this year projects the central theme of the Sultanate's sensational "March and achievement" through stories of man and place since the dawn of its renaissance. Staging of four memorable operettas, participation of 2,500 participants, opulently decorated tableaux depicting life, growth and achievements emblazoned in the brightest of colors and impressions expressed the nation's gratitude to his majesty for his fulfillment of the promise to develop the nation and his careful planning.

The festival, so far, has also seen at least 500 different activities portraying the Sultanate's religious, cultural, sports, artistic and entertainment heritages in most vibrant of all hues, according to a statement by the Festival Department's supervisor-general, Mohammed bin Omar Al Rowas. Seventeen wilayats are also taking part in the festival to showcase and further promote their unique folk arts and performances.

The festival has drawn up elaborate programs for children as well. At least 20 programs have been chalked out for them and all of them are to be staged at the theater with 700 sitting capacities in Children Village. The programs are designed and tailored to enrich the children.

The sprawling Municipal Recreational Center with a total area 200,000 square meters and equipped with all the latest and modern facilities show the care and attention accorded to the festival by the officials. Nothing, in fact, was left to chance.

The festival, which also heralds the beginning of the 40th National Day celebrations, is significant for more than just attracting tourists and celebration of the annual seasonal cycle. It is a depiction of the Sultanate's enchanting heritage and an effort to keep alive the legacy for posterity. It is a depiction of the nation's meteoric rise to development and modernism achieved in a record time of just 40 years of the prosperous reign of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, leader and builder of the modern renaissance of the Sultanate, who has inspired each and every Omani to work for progress and development of their beloved motherland.

Progress and development of the Sultanate even in future are assured. Continuation of the glorious reign of his majesty too is guaranteed as long as there are men like those behind the success of "Salalah Tourism Festival" - the three words written in pure and pristine gold.