Jamal Al-Mulhim, deputy mayor of EP municipality, opened the first Radisson Blu group in the Eastern Province (EP), Alkhoba.

Al-Mulhim lauded the highly developed services provided at the hotel and pointed out that the EP is experiencing a rapid increase in the last years in the number of hotels due to the huge number of visitors to the province from both within and outside the Kingdom.

Abdullateef Al-Bunayan, executive director of the Tourism and Antiquities Authority in the Eastern Region, said: “We are witnessing progress and development in the area and we are committed to follow up the projects and also the tourist accommodations so that it will meet the expectations of visitors of EP.”

Al-Bunayan stressed that such developments resulted in the growth of hotels sector in the region, which recorded high rates.

“We have 133 licensed hotels in 2014 and he is expecting the number of licensed hotels will increase in the three coming years to 148 licensed hotel,” Al-Bunayan said.

He also stated that the occupancy rate of hotels was 38 percent in 2005 and 67 percent in 2012, and the indicators show that the rate will be 75 percent by the end of 2014.

Al-Bunayan said: “We have penalized a number of operators of residential accommodation for violating the rules. Their number reached 450 in the last two years. Basel Talal, Radisson Blu manager, said the hotel with 74 rooms and suits is located close to the Alkhobar Corniche. It features modern furniture, a swimming pool, a health club, and a restaurant. “We are confident that Radisson Blu will be an important addition to the hospitality sector in the region,” Talal added.