A 60-year-old Saudi man who embarked on a journey by foot from Asir, south of the Kingdom, plans to reach Makkah by next week.

Nasir Al-Qahtani, who reached Taif on Sunday morning, is performing Haj on behalf of his late mother and plans to celebrate the Kingdom’s National Day in Jeddah.

Al-Qahtani passed by several governorates in the Asir region, carrying the Saudi flag and the logo of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities in support of national tourism.

He is also carrying a popular logo to raise awareness about traffic safety. “I wanted to embark on the Haj pilgrimage by foot to be able to enjoy my country’s natural beauty and to cheer on development,” said Al-Qahtani.

“I want to promote the idea of spending time within the country and confirm the role played by SCTA chief Prince Sultan bin Salman in encouraging domestic tourism.”

He added: “I timed my arrival next week because I love Makkah, its governor and its people and thank them for serving Umrah and Haj pilgrims,” he said.