The air trips will commence on the first day of Eid as part of Jeddah Summer Festival, a 70-day event that began last month and will continue until Sept. 10.
Saleh Kamel, chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said there were more than 200 activities during the summer event, which started on July 1.
“The third and final phase of the festival that will cover Eid will be characterized by entertainment programs,” he added.
Kamel said the festival had attracted more than 4 million visitors and made revenues of more than SR4 billion.
Capt. Abdullah Al-Salmani, principal of Sama aviation school and chairman of wind gliding at the Saudi Aviation Club, said there would be a number of paragliding flights during Eid to enable residents to have a view of their city from above.
He said normally, there were three to four trips daily, which would be increased during the Eid days on condition that the wind speed is not more than 25 kph.
Al-Salmani said since the beginning of the summer festival, more than 120 wind-gliding flights had been organized.
Director of tourism at the chamber Muhammad Abdul Rahim Al-Safgh said the entertainment programs for Eid would be designed to suit all family members.
He said the festivities would include comedy plays to be shown in various parts of the city. These will include: “Garson and the Stooges,” which will be shown at Waterfall Park in Obhur and “Made in Saudi Arabia,” which will be presented at Sheikh Ismail Abu Dawood Hall at the JCCI.
Al-Safgh said there would be special programs for children, including cultural competitions during which prizes would be given out. He also said folklore troupes would present their shows in many locations in Jeddah including the Al-Baiea (Allegiance) Square near the Foreign Ministry, Al-Hamra Street, the Old Airport, and other areas.
He said foreign communities including Egyptians, Yemenis, and Pakistanis would make special shows during Eid.
CEO of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities in Makkah province Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Amri described the Jeddah summer tourist season, culminating during Eid, as very successful, and said the hotel occupancy had reached 100 percent. He said the commission had three inspection teams that would monitor hotels and furnished apartments to check any increase in the prices.
Al-Amri said the Eid celebrations in Jeddah would consist of folklore dances, theatrical shows, sports activities, fireworks, competitions and a number of other entertainment programs that were designed to bring happiness to the people during Eid.
He expected the hotels and furnished apartments to make returns of more than SR800 million during the summer holidays, which would end with the conclusion of the Eid holidays.
Al-Amri expected between 300,000 and 400,000 people to visit Jeddah during the Eid holidays.
The women section of the Youth City in Al-Wuroud district in north Jeddah will celebrate Eid by holding special lectures for women that will start on the fourth day of Eid and continue for eight days.
On the other hand, the police in Jeddah will intensify their presence in all places where people gather for the celebrations to ensure the safety and security of the residents. They will be present at the Eid prayer places, commercial centers, restaurants, the Corniche, and the main streets to make sure that there are no untoward incidents or security violations.
