JEDDAH, 8 July — Prince Abdullah, the regent, will open the fourth armed forces exhibition at King Khaled Airbase in the Southern Province tomorrow as part of the Abha tourism festival.
Asir Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is chairman of the Tourism Promotion Committee, said the opening of the exhibition by Prince Abdullah demonstrates his concern for the people and armed forces in the region.
He thanked Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, for his approval to hold the show as a major event of the Abha festival.
The governor highlighted the government’s efforts to promote domestic tourism. He said there was seven to 12 percent rise in the number of tourists to Asir resorts over the past week compared to the same period last year.
Located 670 km south of Jeddah and at 2,200 meters above sea level, Abha is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the Kingdom.
Abha with its rain forests, invigorating and salubrious climate, mountains and gardens attracts more than a million tourists and holiday-makers every year.
Prince Khaled was talking to reporters after chairing a meeting of the higher committee for Abha prizes.
The annual prizes are awarded for outstanding performance in the areas of national service, general education, university education and cultural activities.
Prince Khaled announced that 69 persons, including five women, have won prizes this year from a total of 21,344 nominees in the four categories.
The Asir governorate launched the prize about 20 years ago as part of Abha tourism festival. So far 1,555 people have received the prizes.
Prince Khaled said prices of various tourist services in the Asir region were very low compared to those in the tourist resorts in other Arab countries.
Maj. Gen. Zaal Suleiman Al-Balawi, commander of the Southern Province, also thanked the regent for having agreed to open the military show.
“Such exhibitions are held to attract Saudi and foreign tourists to the region and highlight the role of the armed forces in defending the country and its people,” Balawi said.
The exhibition, which will display weapons and armaments of the Kingdom’s air, land and naval forces will be open to the public from 3.30 to 7p.m.
The event includes air shows by the planes of the land, air and naval forces, parachute jumping and a permanent show by the defense and security departments.
