JEDDAH, 21 December — Hotels and tourist resorts in Jeddah did brisk business over the Eid holidays, according to market sources. The marked increase in the tourist services was due to the new programs offered by the hotel industry in Jeddah combined with an unprecedented rise in the number of amusement centers in the city in the past three years.
Hotels in the Eastern Province, however, have reported low occupancy rates during the holidays mainly because the festive mood was lacking this season resulting in a huge decline in the number of visitors to the region.
During the Eid Al-Fitr holidays people flock to amusement parks, the Corniche, hotels and tourist resorts, and chalices particularly at the Obhur beach.
The demand for the tourist facilities in Jeddah rose by 100 percent compared to other seasons in the year, according to Hasan Saqr, director general of Resorts and Touristiqu Estate Co. Ltd., which markets tourist programs for more than 30 resorts and hotels the Kingdom. Though the peak days are the first five days of the Eid holidays, the tourist villages, chalets in the Obhur beach were all full several days before that, Al-Saqr said.
The hotels in general offered special programs featuring entertainment and instant gift-draws during Eid holidays, said Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, general manager of the Red Sea Hotel in downtown. The point-collection scheme introduced by the Red Sea hotel offered customers free lodging and meals. Those who collected 100 points were eligible for free rooms while lesser points gave them free meals, Al-Ghamdi added.
Emphasis was on entertainment programs, which attracted families in large numbers, he said.
Muhammad Abdul Hameed Al-Humaid, director general of the Jeddah-based National Company for Amusement and Tourist Projects, said his company registered a 40 percent increase in the number of customers this year, particularly after the introduction of the "ice city" and Internet games.
Meanwhile, Jeddah police ordered the closure of amusement centers, restaurants and commercial centers along the Corniche area before 2 a.m. The police also ordered the tourism establishments to shutter the entrance gates half an hour before 2 a.m. so that they can also close at the appointed time.
This followed reports of unruly behavior by certain youths in the late hours of Tuesday.
These youths harassed several families in the Corniche. They dispersed only after the intervention of police.
Several picnickers and families have complained of the chaotic state of affairs on the Corniche. There are also complaints of amusement companies increasing their charges exorbitantly.
