TAIF, 10 May 2005 — Conference tourism in this summer resort city attained a growth rate of 120 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, according to Khalil Abdul Rahman Bahadur, member of the tourism promotion committee in Taif.
“This type of tourism will further increase tourist traffic to Taif,” said Bahadur, owner of Bahadur Plaza Hotel and Mall in Hada. He estimated the number of tourists and holidaymakers who visited Taif last year at 1.8 million.
Many companies and organizations hold conferences, seminars and board meetings in Taif, he pointed out, adding that the trend would increase the number of tourists to the city by 30 to 50 percent this year.
A major international medical conference dealing with intensive care opened at Hada Hospital yesterday. Some 800 Saudi and non-Saudis are participating.
The conference, which is organized by the Armed Forces Hospitals Program, aims at enhancing awareness of Saudi and Arab doctors of new developments in intensive care services. About 60 speakers will address the conference. Bahadur said Taif was selected one of the four Saudi cities to host the Islamic Solidarity Games last month, adding that many delegations from OIC countries stayed in his hotel. “Our hotel provides tourism programs to our guests as we take them to major tourist attractions in the city,” Bahadur said.
