JEDDAH: The number of residents and visitors to Jeddah preferring a brief leisure time at the sea is on the rise — especially during the Eid holidays. But their choice of breezing on a watercraft or take a leisurely cruise is now coming at a premium with the owners of the jet skis and boats hiking the rentals during the Eid holidays.
Despite the high price, the cruises during the evenings and jet ski rides during the day at Obhur, water sports are on the rise. The number of visitors to this spot is also going up as it is one of the popular beach resorts in the region.
“The activities are in demand despite the soaring prices of boats and jet skis. The rent of a jet ski has reached SR1,000 while that of sailboats SR2,000,” according to a cruise organizer.
A number of customers are complaining about the high prices but boat owners believe that it is a normal phenomenon during Eid — a season for them to make money.
With other parts of the corniche inaccessible due to development projects, residents and visitors are left with limited options.
Despite the Hobson’s choice of paying demanded rents, the Obhur resorts are packed. This despite the fact that there are other options where people can avail the same or better leisure activities by traveling to nearby tourist resorts that are well within their means.
The owners of boats and jet skis justified the hikes by saying that in order for their businesses to become cost-effective, they had to increase the rentals. Also they spend a lot of time and effort in obtaining licenses and in order to get licenses from the Ministry of Transport, they have to secure good boats and jet skis, vaults, fire extinguishers and helmets.
The license is however not difficult to obtain. All it requires is for the applicant to know swimming and have knowledge of sailing a boat or riding jet skis.
Meanwhile, an owner of a cruise boat said the popularity of the area brings in lots of people, regardless of the price they have to pay.
Abdullah Al-Atiq, in charge of the cruise activities in the cultural exchange center of the department of Dawa (call) and Guidance, said a large number of people came to the sea resort to just relax, “and that’s one reason our center brings the converts, who embrace Islam and wish to learn Arabic, on a cruise to get to know them better.”
He said the popularity of this spot is sure to encourage other spots to be established on the Jeddah shores for similar leisure activities.
According to informed sources, there are about 5,000 boats and jet skis in use on the shores of Jeddah.
