DAMMAM, 13 November 2003 — The Eastern Province is gearing up to receive thousands of tourists during Eid holidays and the authorities are making final arrangements.
Normally holidaymakers begin arriving in the region from the third week of Ramadan and stay here for a week after the end of Ramadan. Most of the people come from Riyadh and adjoining areas in addition to visitors from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The Eastern Province Tourism Committee has set up several committees and sub-committees to make all the arrangements for tourists in coordination with various government departments. The committee has also lined up several cultural and entertainment programs at various locations.
The main focus is at Half Moon Beach, which is most popular among tourists from Riyadh and Kuwait because of its clean beach and tent city. Chalets and tourist resorts at Half Moon Bay are also very popular. Though somewhat expensive these chalets and tourist resorts over the years have been doing quite a brisk business during Eid holidays.
The furnished apartments around the cities of Dammam and Alkhobar also have near 100 percent occupancy. Owners of the furnished apartments say that it is during the two Eid holidays that they do most business, which compensates for the loss they otherwise incur throughout the year.
