Hotels and rest houses in the capital did brisk business during the holidays, with sales and marketing personnel of these establishments claiming a "houseful" with 100 percent bookings during the Eid days.
Some of these bookings were made a year ago, and these people escaped the markups that generally take place during Eids. Though the rents of hotel rooms and rest houses nearly doubled or trebled during this high season, the tourists and the residents of the city were also hit by high prices of goods and gifts.
With the Saudi families increasingly preferring to spend their Eids away from their homes, there has been a growth in the occupancy in hotels and rest houses during the holidays. Saudi investors in this industry are optimistic as the domestic tourism gets a fillip.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), citing figures from a research report, said the Kingdom’s domestic tourism has made unprecedented progress with a 27 percent growth this summer, compared to 2010.
Mish’al Al-Badr, owner of a rest house in Riyadh said finding a rest house during Eid is very difficult because most of these houses are booked well before Eid. And on current trends, Al-Badr is optimistic that this business would grow.
The increase during Eids according to Al-Badr is a natural phenomenon in the business when demands are high. “For us this is a period when we can make good money. The profits we make also help us to stay afloat during the lean seasons,” he added.
Special Eid festivities were organized for women in different parts of Riyadh. Princess Reema bint Talal attended the programs at Saud Al-Babtain Heritage Center and King Abdul Aziz Historical Center.
Dances and songs by children as well as dramas by young women were the highlights of the women’s Eid programs.
Habiba Kosht of Saudi Diabetes Society gave a lecture at King Abdul Aziz Center on how to take precautions against the disease.
Poet Amal Al-Hussein recited a number of her poems, which was followed by an operetta highlighting the traditions of various regions. The festival also witnessed the largest exhibition of Eid paintings of children in the capital city.
Princess Reema was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony of the event at Babtain Center, which was attended by more than 3,000 women and children, including the wives of foreign diplomats based in Riyadh.
Dikra Al-Shoalan, head of the organizing committee, said a number of charitable societies that care for orphans and the people of special needs took part in this year’s Eid festivities.
