JEDDAH: Summer rain, relatively mild temperatures, and mountain attractions are drawing residents and tourists to Al-Baha and Taif, where parks, forests and recreational sites have recorded increased visitor activity, according to a report from the Saudi Press Agency.
As scattered rainfall across Al-Baha helped moderate temperatures as fog and low clouds formed over the region’s highlands, residents and visitors headed to parks, forests and natural sites across several governorates, taking advantage of the cooler weather, mountainous landscape and vegetation.
Al-Baha city and its governorates are home to 142 gardens and parks, 39 walking tracks, 118 public sculptures and 27 municipal squares. The total area of its gardens and parks exceeds 4.18 million square meters, the SPA reported, adding that summer rain and fog are characteristic of Al-Baha’s highlands and contribute to milder temperatures and increased tourism activity.
In neighboring Taif, the Al-Hada cable car continues to attract families and holidaymakers, offering views of the Sarawat Mountains, valleys, steep slopes and vegetation, the SPA stated.
The 4,200-meter route connects the summit of Al-Hada with Al-Kar Tourist Village. It operates 52 cabins, each carrying up to eight passengers, with a capacity of about 1,000 passengers per hour in each direction. The journey takes approximately 17 minutes.
Bird gardens in Al-Hada are also attracting visitors with activities including bird feeding and photography. The gardens are “equipped with facilities suited to the birds’ needs and provide information about their species and characteristics,” the SPA reported.
Sara Al-Zahrani, who was spending her summer holiday in Taif with her family, told Arab News they had chosen a staycation in the Kingdom to explore destinations closer to home.
“We wanted the children to experience a different side of Saudi Arabia. The weather, mountains and greenery make it feel like a completely different destination, and there are activities for the whole family,” she said.
Al-Zahrani is a bird enthusiast, and said the gardens had become popular among visitors to Taif because they combine direct interaction with wildlife in a safe environment.
The growing popularity of Taif’s cable car, bird gardens and natural attractions is helping diversify tourism activities in the region and support ecotourism during the summer season, the SPA stated.
Fahad Badghaish was visiting Al-Baha, and said the variety of landscapes across the Kingdom had encouraged him and his family to stay in Saudi Arabia for their holiday.
“Saudi Arabia has beaches, mountains, forests and deserts, and every region offers a different experience. We appreciate the natural beauty and the variety of places we can visit without having to travel abroad,” he told Arab News.
