Ahsa remains key tourist attraction

The Saudi business community is exploring the potential of the leisure and tourism sector as the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) doubles efforts to promote tourism in the Kingdom.
In the Eastern Province, the tourism sector escalated from 38 percent in 2012 to 66 percent in 2013.
Such a high growth rate indicates a positive upward trend in tourism in the Kingdom.
Ahsa’s strategic location as a coastal town is also a magnet for visitors from both within the Kingdom and abroad.
Moreover, the newly upgraded Ahsa International Airport has boosted tourism in this oasis town by increasing its connectivity with neighboring Gulf countries.
There are several tourism and heritage projects underway aiming to transform Ahsa into a major tourist destination.
Among them, the Al-Ogair tourism project is considered to be the most important tourism site in the Kingdom, according to the SCTA.
“Almost 63 percent of the total number of visitors to the Eastern Province spend their holidays in Al-Ahsa, which highlights its significance as a major tourist destination,” said Ahmed Rashed Al-Rashed, a promoter for the Al-Rashed town square, the site of a high-end shopping mall and a 164-room hotel.
According to Al-Rashed, his company decided to build the Al-Rashed town square due to the increasing number of tourists. The landmark town square will not only be a tourist hub, but also a prime leisure center.