JEDDAH: The 2nd annual Obhur Tourism Festival began last night with fireworks lighting the north Jeddah skies.
Various activities are lined up for the weeklong festival at Obhur. One of the highlights of the festival is the Formula 2000 race, with top international teams competing. Bike racing, Jet Ski competition, water skiing, rowing and fishing are among the other activities.
Being held under the auspices of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, the festival has the support of Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed. The event coincides with the Eid Al-Fitr holidays. “Jeddah is a tourist destination, and hosting such festivals and functions further puts the emphasis on the position of the Bride of the Red Sea in attracting tourists. This plays a very important role in establishing the necessary investment support in the region,” said Ziad El-Chaar, international general manager of DAMAC Proper-ties, which is sponsoring the event.
An operetta, aside from fireworks, marked the opening ceremony. The festival will entertain the public with a series of entertainment programs.
With the families of citizens and residents, both local and from other parts of the Kingdom, crowding the Corniche, Jeddah remains the most popular destination among domestic travelers due to its nearness to Makkah and Madinah, and also because of its holiday attractions that include the scenic beaches and water sports on the Red Sea.
“I’m once again back in Jeddah, as my family loves it,” said Salman Al-Guthami, a Riyadh businessman. “We will visit Makkah. My children are keen to spend the evenings on the Corniche. My son is an accomplished diver and he loves the Red Sea.”
Referring to the Obhur Festival, he said he would utilize his stay here to enjoy the festival with his children.
Meanwhile, the influx of citizens and expatriates for the Eid break has resulted in heavy bookings among some of Jeddah’s hotels and furnished apartments.
“We are fully booked. Most of our guests had booked ahead. We are also passing on some of our guests to other hotels,” said an executive at a five-star hotel in central Jeddah. There is a rush for hotel rooms, because many did not book in advance, he added.
Five-star hotels along the Corniche are also busy with an influx of Middle East and GCC visitors.
“Some of the groups had booked a couple of months in advance for their Eid stay,” an executive of a hotel on the Corniche said.
City hotels said they would have a busy season following the Eid.
Inquiries show that overseas tour operators have booked most of the hotels for the upcoming Haj.
“Some of these tour operators are from Indonesia who send a large number of Haj pilgrims,” said an executive at another five-star hotel on the Corniche.
