TAIF: The Tourism Development Council in Taif held a meeting yesterday under the chairmanship of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and discussed proposals to make the resort city one of the Kingdom’s leading tourism destinations.
Addressing the council, Prince Khaled underscored the council’s efforts to improve tourist facilities in the city. “Taif is considered the Kingdom’s No. 1 tourist center,” he said, adding that the government would do its best to meet Taif’s tourism requirements.
He urged the Taif Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Saudi businessmen to make use of tourism investment opportunities in the city.
“We will go ahead with the project to develop the historic Okaz Souk and the Al-Hada and Al-Shafa areas of Taif by providing them with advanced tourism facilities. Souk Okaz will boost intellectual and cultural movements in the Kingdom,” he said.
Prince Khaled said it was time to execute projects. “During the past years, we have been conducting studies on various projects. Now we have to move into the stage of execution,” he told the meeting which was attended by officials and businessmen.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), attended the council meeting. He called for joint efforts to make Taif a model for successful tourism. He also spoke about new tourism projects and programs in the city.
Prince Sultan commended the efforts of Prince Khaled in achieving remarkable progress in Taif’s tourism sector, by carrying out three vital projects — Souk Okaz, Al-Hada and Al-Shafa. He said investors had shown interest in projects such as Al-Hada and Al-Shafa. “We consider municipalities main partners of SCTA,” he said. He said SCTA had licensed 60 tour operators across the Kingdom, adding that they would play a greater role in boosting domestic tourism.
He disclosed plans to establish a College of Tourism in Taif. “Prince Khaled will lay the foundation for the college shortly and studies will begin within two years,” he said.
Mohammed Qari Al-Sayyed, secretary-general of the council, briefed the meeting on the council’s achievements in implementing the strategic plan set by Prince Khaled for the development of Souk Okaz, Al-Hada, Al-Shafa and other tourist centers in the city.
“The people of Taif are fully aware of the importance of tourism. This makes it easy for investors to carry out various tourism development projects,” Al-Sayyed said. “We have also established a center for the promotion of tourism.”
