RIYADH, 27 March 2007 — People in Riyadh are taking advantage of an unexpected long four-day weekend coinciding with the Arab summit that is starting tomorrow. According to tour agents, domestic and international flights to Jeddah and Cairo and hotels, chalets, holiday apartments are all fully booked, reported Al-Riyadh newspaper.
The Arab summit is expected to end on Wednesday. Tuesday and Wednesday have been both declared as holidays for people in the Saudi capital. The long-weekend has been declared to ease traffic in the highly congested city.
A reliable source in the travel and tourism sector said that the unexpected vacation has seen a boom in domestic and international flights, especially Jeddah and Cairo. Muhaidab Al-Muhaidab, from Al-Sarh Travel Agents, said, “After three hours of the vacation being announced, flights to Jeddah were all fully booked. People want to spend two days in Makkah and two in Jeddah.”
A spokesman for the Tourism Committee at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce said, “Riyadh people mainly travel to Cairo, which is the most popular destination followed by Dubai and then Bahrain.”
He added that the increase in travel to Dubai has led to an increase in hotel prices, which range from SR1,500 to SR3,000 per room. “Jeddah is considered a popular resort for people in Riyadh because the weather is good during February, March and April. People can also nip to Makkah for Umrah,” he said.
He added that a number of people are traveling to Qasim and Hail to visit family and spend their vacations there as well.
