JEDDAH: Bus carriers have reported a 20 percent increase in the number of travelers during the Haj and Eid holidays compared to last year.
Supervisor for national bus company SAPTCO’s Al-Balad terminal, Ahmed Mohammed Al-Harbi, confirmed the figures to Arab News.
“The number of travelers has increased over the past week, which is normal with no availability of airline reservations and people on the move as the holidays begin,” said Al-Harbi, adding many low-income families prefer to take the bus in order to save money.
Outside the SAPTCO bus stop, drivers of cabs, private cars and buses call out various destinations in their attempts to attract fares.
“It’s high season but as you can see supply exceeds the demand. I am competing with 21 people. I support my parents, sisters, brothers, wife and kids,” said taxi driver Mohammed Al-Shehri.
“I have been here since morning. Until now I have not found my five passengers,” he said. “The number of passengers has increased this week, yes, but so has the number of cars competing for those passengers.
“Competition is fierce. You have your unemployed youth in their private cars. You have your Saudi small time investors who own up to five buses. And you have your foreign drivers and pilgrim operators who operate during their free week after dropping off their pilgrim passengers in the holy sites.” Al-Shehri added.
Some citizens also apparently rented buses so they could carry more passengers during high season.
Jordanian expatriate Zaid was forced to make a road trip from Riyadh for the first time in 10 years to see his son in Jeddah due to non-availabilty of seats in any airline.
“I didn’t think I would face a problem in finding flight reservations but I did. Next year I will plan my visit earlier.”
