The 10-day Jeddah Heritage Festival which opened on Thursday attracted 72,000 visitors, who got a glimpse of the city as it was a century ago.

Makkah Governor Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah and President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) Prince Sultan bin Salman launched the event organized by the SCTA and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The festival will be open from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily.

Khaled Al-Boqami, chairman of the festival’s media committee, said the festival comprises 46 events portraying the history of the city, artifacts such as tools used in the distant past, folk arts and drama and musical shows.

Visitors were fascinated by the handicraft products made by productive families, traditional coffee houses and eateries. A number of stalls were selling handicraft and heritage products on both sides of the 800 meters festival ground, Al-Boqami said.

Field and organizing committees served as guides to visitors and answered their queries. An efficient transport system was also in place with buses taking people from parking area to the festival site and back. Golf carts were available for aged and disabled visitors.

The government is striving to have old Jeddah included on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) list of the world heritage cities.

Jeddah Mayor Hani Abu Ras said the municipality nearly completed 10 projects that were started two years ago to preserve and develop the heritage of the region. It signed another four new projects last month.

He said nine projects involved the electronic authentication and storage of documents, and the establishment of a specialized department for urban heritage projects at the municipality.