Executive director of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) in Makkah province Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Amri on Monday attributed the rise to the pleasant weather in Jeddah and its numerous tourist attractions.
“There are 320 malls and supermarkets in Jeddah, accounting for more than a fifth of total shopping facilities in the Kingdom. The Red Sea coastal city, with 360 monuments and sculptures by international artists, is considered an open museum,” he said.
Al-Amri said a main feature in Jeddah that attracts tourists and visitors is its 48 km long Corniche with various facilities and the King Fahd Fountain which shoots water up to 262 meters.
“When we talk about Jeddah, we are actually talking about one of the most famous Saudi cities. It contains high-class tourist facilities such as hotels, furnished apartments, resorts, restaurants, amusement parks, the sea, sports facilities, museums and malls,” he added.
Al-Amri revealed that the Jeddah Summer Festival will this year consist of new programs and activities and will contribute to increasing visitors to the city by at least 20 percent compared to last year.
Al-Amri said the Makkah province witnesses every day new economic, tourist and developmental projects, making it one of the vital locations of the world.
“Makkah receives millions of pilgrims and visitors all year around who come to perform Haj or Umrah. It also attracts citizens and foreigners during the spring vacation and throughout the year,” he said.
Al-Amri said during the holiday seasons, tourist and entertainment programs are organized in Makkah, including competitions and gift promotions, in order to attract more visitors and shoppers.
“People go to Makkah for Umrah and then to Jeddah to rest and entertain themselves. This is why Makkah province is a unique tourist spot,” he added.
He said the SCTA has made all necessary arrangements to receive tourists in Makkah and Jeddah. “We have prepared the historic and tourist sites that people prefer to visit. We have also deployed five field teams to check prices and ensure the comfort of tourists,” he said, warning hotels and furnished apartments not to hike their rates excessively because of the tourist season.
Meanwhile, many Saudi and foreign vacationers have made it a point to visit the rest houses in Thuwwal and Dhahban in north Jeddah to enjoy fish and other seafood in the open air with their families. There are more than 50 seafood restaurants in the area.
“The demand for our services has increased by about 50 percent and the occupation of our rest houses has reached 100 percent. We have many customers lining up to find empty rooms,” said Fahd Al-Ghamdi, owner of a rest house.
He said he was keen to maintain the comfort of his customers by keeping prices at their normal level, decorating and air conditioning the room in addition to building special playgrounds for children.
Ali Al-Zahrani and Khaled Ayoub, two Saudi vacationers, called on the municipality and the Health Affairs Department to control prices and ensure food is fresh and properly cooked.
