This number surpassed the record 450511 during the entire khareef season in 2008. And this year's season is still a long way from its end.

As per the NCSI figures the total number of khareef visitors increased to 423662 in 2014 from 421835 recorded in 2013 reflecting a rise of 0.4 per cent.

Preceding years' figures stood at 351195 (2012) 339500 (2011) 262203 (2010) and 293043 (2009).This year Omani visitors numbered 342579 constituting about 74 per cent of the total.

Emiratis made up the second largest group at 47833 (ten per cent of the total) while Saudis came third with 17189 constituting four per cent of the total number of visitors.

There were 3152 3060 and 2154 visitors from Bahrain Qatar and Kuwait.

At 35639 Asians constituted eight per cent of the total visitors while the number of visitors from other Arab countries reached 8252.

Also there were 1478 European tourists.