RIYADH, 2 January — A SR60-million Disneyland-type project, described as the first of its kind in the Middle East, will be launched here next year as part of a program to bring high-tech entertainment facilities into the expanding domestic tourism market. This was revealed to Arab News by Muhammad Al-Moajel, member of the National Tourism Committee and general manager Al-Moajel Projects Co. Ltd.
Located on the Riyadh Ring road, the 50,000-square metre project would feature Star Wars, Hollywood studios and a 'wild wadi' with boat rides through turbulent waters. This will be in addition to roller coasters and other exciting rides.
Al-Moajel Projects Co. is currently organizing a ten-day long Eid program on behalf of the Riyadh Municipality. Attracting 150,000 visitors so far, its features include bungy-jumping, monster cars and a zero gravity balloon ride, a diving show and feats of strength. The exhibition, open daily from 4 p.m. to10.30 p.m., will end on Friday.
The 10-foot high monster cars moving on huge tires were a big draw. Spectators cheered as they rode over some scrap vehicles parked inside the enclosure or jumped high into the air from a ramp.
Al-Moajel said the decision to set up the novel entertainment project was taken after a feasibility study that established its viability. "Our goal is to attract domestic tourists from the Kingdom and the Gulf," Al-Moajel said, adding that some three million Saudis travel abroad spending over SR30 billion annually. This amount is expected to increase to SR45.75 billion ($12.2 billion.)
He said domestic tourism had a great market potential and had become a priority for the government. Asked what could be done to tap this market, Al-Moajel said it was important to gear tourism projects to the needs of the citizens, their traditions and sensitivities. He said some other projects in this sector did not take these aspects into consideration.
Asked to comment on the high cost of local recreation programs, he justified this on the grounds that some of the entertainment facilities on offer were unique in the region and cited the monster cars as a case in point.
