The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has approved a project to rehabilitate and develop Wasit village in Tibala in Bisha governorate.

The project will be implemented in cooperation with the Wasit Municipality at an estimated cost of SR10 million, half of which will come from the commission.

The approval came following the visit of SCTA Director Mohammad Alamra to Wasit village.

The director was accompanied by Wasit Mayor Khaled Al-Widai, director of SCTA’s office in Bisha Abdullah Alaklabi and an engineering team, which included Asir Architectural Heritage Department's Abdul Aziz Ghamim and Ahmad Al-Shamrani, in addition to Adham Almilhi and Taher Hassan from technical support.

The director general of the commission’s branch in the province, Mohammad Alamrah, said in a press statement after the visit that the commission approved the project and agreed to pay half its costs, as pledged by its president, Prince Sultan bin Salman, to support the work of the commission in the governorate during his latest visit, which coincided with the launch of the second Badia Festival.

He said space surveys for the village have already started before starting renovations, rehabilitation and operation of the village. He pointed out that the project has hotel accommodations, coffee shops, cafes and traditional restaurants.

He added that the duration of the project has not been defined yet, but it is expected to be completed within a year.

Alamrah appreciated the cooperation of the villagers and their enthusiasm to the project. He said the project will benefit from local community, especially productive families, in addition to benefiting from the environment and its elements.

During a meeting with the secretary-general of the governorate, Trad Alsalouli, the director general reviewed the arrangements of Bisha Festival, which will be held with the support of Prince Faisal bin Khalid.

The meeting resulted in a number of recommendations to prepare the new market location, coordinate with health and security entities and set up points for distribution and marketing in Abha city.

The meeting reviewed details of the signed contract with the Palm and Dates’ Center and other consultancy centers to educate farmers about the importance of developing products, raise the level of farmers’ income and meet their needs to help contribute to the development of palm farming and maintain date production and marketing in a manner that guarantees positive outcomes for farmers.

Farmers will be educated about the importance of forging partnerships with the private sector to hold workshops and training for investors and businessmen as part of the activities of the festival and introduce them to the importance of developing date products because it one of the most important economic resources of the Bisha governorate, with a total production of more than 60,000 a year.

He stressed the importance of supporting date production, an important national product, and including farms and the harvesting program within tourist programs that will recapture the old harvesting styles.

He also stressed the importance of supporting productive families that contribute to frond (leaves of palm trees) manufacturing.