JEDDAH: Saudi society is witnessing a new trend, with families booking hotel halls or guesthouses for banquets on the occasion of Eid for various reasons. And the development has been hailed by experts because money is being spent in the Kingdom and not outside.

The reservation of these places starts well in advance, in some cases in the beginning of the month of Ramadan, local media said quoting those associated with the hospitality sector.

Prices vary from one hotel to hotel according to the food and beverage menu and other requirements of the clients, said an entrepreneur. The rent of one hall ranges from SR15,000 to 60,000, he added.

An expert in the field said this new attitude is reviving internal tourism. Instead of traveling abroad, which has become costly these days, citizens spend in the Kingdom, he said.

Meshal Al-Nafie, an expert in the hotel industry, said reservations of hotel halls is weak compared to rest-houses and wedding halls because of reasons such as hotels charging according to the number of people. The the price ranges from SR200 to 450 per person in hotels, depending on the selected menu, he said.

Al-Nafie said people start reserving the halls for Eid at the beginning of Ramadan month.

Abdulraziq Hamadah, a manager of a hotel in Jeddah, said a Saudi family reserved a hall with a seaside view on the occasion of Eid so that relatives and friends could exchange greetings in an attractive environment. “The cost of the food and service in addition to the hall rate ranged from SR50,000 to 60,000,” said Hamadah.

He said it is better for big families to celebrate Eid this way, where the cost can be shared by relatives.

Zainab Eid, a wedding hall manager in Jeddah, said families are now more inclined to celebrate Eid outside because of limited space at home. “Another reason for this new trend is that housewives do not wish children to tamper with the furniture and other decorations in the house.”

Abdulrahman Al-Sultan, an economic expert, said families spend big money on renting hotel halls or rest house for Eid. “But one cannot regard this as a drain of the family finances as the trend is considered a substitute for traveling abroad.”

He said families cannot afford to host many of its members at home because of limited space, while rest-houses provide space as well as many activities because of the existence of playgrounds and swimming pools.

Hani Abu Sabaa, an investor in the hotel industry, said the revenues collected from leasing halls for Eid do not exceed 2 percent of the revenues yielded from parties.