The Civil Defense has pledged to close down entertainment centers that do not adhere to safety standards.

Many of these centers are operating in full swing during the current Eid holidays.

“Civil Defense teams constantly conduct ad hoc inspections on entertainment centers and parks to ensure they adhere to safety standards, especially during festivals and vacation periods,” said Abdullah Al-Harthi, Civil Defense spokesman.

“Centers are tasked with maintaining electricity equipment through daily checks and through routinely testing fire alerts,” he said.

Meanwhile, experts have called for the introduction of insurance policies against risks arising from using games at arcades, a local newspaper reported.

“For now, the gardens located along the Jeddah waterfront are safe enough, but indoor centers need to become more safety-proof to attract more visitors,” Salah Taha, a Sudanese resident, told Arab News.

Jeddah’s waterfront, which was open for business last December, represents a new rival to many entertainment centers.

Renovations included new internal roads, an exclusive ramp for the physically handicapped, 899 parking slots, a separate lane for joggers, playing facilities for children and public toilets. 

“We have stopped going to entertainment centers due to accidents that have occurred in several venues over the last few months,” Aisha Mahmoud, a Yemeni housewife, told Arab News.

Consumption in the recreational sector averaged SR2.1 billion in 2012 based on data made available by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).

Revenues at entertainment centers reached a whopping SR1.5 billion, of which 48.7 percent is generated from e-games and 27.5 percent from entrance fees, according to SCTA data.

Recreational and entertainment centers generate 35 percent of their total revenues for the entire year during holiday seasons such as Eid Al-Fitr.

Turnover at recreational centers increase by as much as 300 percent during Eid holidays, while family spending ranges between SR500 and SR2,000 per capita during these seasons.