ABHA, 2 August 2006 — The tourism festival in the Asir region this summer is expected to be a huge success. The season offers a good opportunity for hard-working youth to make a lot of money and many people, teenagers in particular, find plenty of work at sites frequented by holidaymakers.
Youngsters can be seen selling snacks, softdrinks, bottled-water, toys and other items popular with tourists. A variety of locally-produced fruit is also highly popular among visitors. Picnickers find this a great help as shopping centers and restaurants tend to be located at a distance away in the city.
Some of these park vendors, who earn a considerable sum of money in the season, have ambitions of owning shops of their own while others are yet to draw plans for the future.
Muhammad Abdul Rahman, 17, sells his wares in the Abu Khayal Park overlooking the city. As his facial expressions suggest, he enjoys the work he does. His brother helps him by taking items to sell in the family sitting areas or offering services in return for a little money.
Nassir is at secondary school and told Arab News that his daily income selling goods on the street averaged SR200 during peak tourist season. He said he has been selling things for the last four summers and dreams of owning car-body shop using the money he earns.
