77 EP tourist attractions await visitors during Eid holidays

The Eastern Province is gearing up to host the Eid Al-Adha festival during the Eid vacation, with authorities identifying 77 tourist attractions in Dammam, Alkhobar, Dhahran and Qatif.
With numerous events and festivals taking place during the Eid vacation, the region not only attracts domestic tourists, but will also see thousands visiting from other GCC countries.
The General Authority of Tourism and Antiquities in the Eastern Province has completed arrangements to launch the festival, in which several tourism agencies, cultural groups, shopping centers and recreational facilities will participate.
The festival, promoted through an advertisement campaign targeting tourists from inside and outside the Gulf, will offer visitors a unique and diverse range of events and activities, as well as exceptional services prepared specifically for the event.
According to Abdulateef Al-Banyan, executive director of the General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities in the Eastern Province, visitors to the Eastern Region this year will get to enjoy various cultural and informative programs launched by Saudi Aramco.
These include “Garden of Traffic Safety” to teach children about the importance of safe driving and traffic systems, the Ibn Al-Haytham exhibition, which is an interactive gallery portraying the inventions of Ibn Al-Haytham and presenting 100 inventions that changed our lives, and the Oasis Energy exhibition that speaks about the importance of preserving energy.
More than 500 volunteers have been trained to provide basic customer service, as well as ensure a safe and healthy environment, he said, adding that the activities at the festival will last 44 days.
Qatif will host the Al-Dokhlah Festival in which many cultural events related to social and literary heritage will be staged, the most important of which includes productive families, heritage village and a fishing competition.
Various other exhibitions will also be held at the Prince Abdul Aziz Center for Science and Technology in Alkhobar (Sci-tech), while many popular shopping malls, such as Dareen Mall, Al-Shatea Mall and Al-Sharea Mall, will host events that target families that enjoy spending more time in commercial centers.
Al-Banyan said that visitors can take advantage of different service bundles, including hotels, restaurants and shopping deals during the festival season. The strategic partnerships between the Tourism Authority and various parties continue to support initiatives aimed at stabilizing the position of the Eastern Region on the list of Arab tourist-attractive cities, he said.
He said the authority will continue its campaign to monitor tourist activities in the region through six teams positioned in the field to address any issues. Tourists can call 19988 to inquire about prominent tourist sites, restaurants, shopping malls and hotels, as well as to file complaints.