Saudi Arabia’s New Tourist Jewels
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Domestic tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia achieved great growth throughout the last few years. The country witnessed several tourist projects and installations, carried out by the government and the private sector. The latter are concentrated on developing the tourist areas on the kingdom's western and eastern shores, as well as in summer resorts in Taif, Baha and Asir. The national investments doubled in the tourist fields, and reached thousands of millions of riyals. This led to the establishment of several giant tourist enterprises and companies, which take over the construction, administration and operation of several kinds of tourist projects such as hotels, furnished villas and flats, tourist villages, chalets, games cities, entertainment centers, shopping centers and other services, abiding by the traditions of Saudi society. Economic sources estimated the volume of national investments in the internal tourist projects during the last five years at more than SR15 billion, 5 billion alone for hotel investments. This raised the hotel capacity in the kingdom to about 37,500 rooms and 3500 residential units distributed between the tourist villages and chalets, and about 50 entertainment cities and kids' games centers. There are about 370 agencies for travel and tourism in the kingdom. A study, released from Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Research Center, estimated the total of Saudi citizens' expenditure in internal and external tourism at about an average of $17 billion annually. The quota of internal tourism out of this amount does not exceed 27 %. This made the state concentrate its efforts on developing internal (home) tourism. The summer resorts, in Taif, Baha and Asir, located in the southwestern area, are the best resorts in the kingdom. These areas, which are 3000 meters above sea level, are distinguished by their moderate weather in summer, and beautiful scenery. These areas are famous for their agricultural bleachers and various sorts of fruits and vegetables. These areas are connected with the kingdom's other areas by air through regional airports in Abha, Baha and Taif, and by land through a network of roads that extend across the valleys and mountains. In addition to the integration of their infrastructure which contains transportation, water, electricity and modern communications, the upper structure also is integrated in gardens and parks, together with the availability of various tourist services. The temperature in these areas ranges between 25-30 degrees and goes down to less than this in the hills of Asir and Baha. The temperature in other cities in the kingdom and Gulf States reaches 45 degrees sometimes. So, the resorts are crowded with tourists who go there from different parts of the kingdom and the nearby Gulf states. A study prepared by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Abha, in cooperation with the Geography Section at the Faculty of Education, stated that the number of summer vacationers in Asir in the summer of 1997 summer reached 1,312,500. The study further estimated their expenses at more than SR2 billion and 269 million. Although Taif is considered the primary summer resort in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Asir and Baha started to compete with it in attracting summer travelers, due to the tourist facilities available there. Taif is distinct with its nearness to Makkah (75 kilometers) as the summer vacationers like to go to the holy mosque in Omra, going around the Kaaba, going to and fro in Safa and Marwa (Omra rituals), and then back to Taif within a few hours. To the south of Taif, at a distance of 250 kilometers approximately, lies the area of Baha with its beautiful air and nature. Besides the citadels and fortresses in the area, it is celebrated for its unique architectural heritage. It is also distinctive for its abundant agricultural production of fruits and vegetables. The most important of its cities is Belgurashy, which is considered an important commercial center, 12 kilometers away from Baha city. The area receives annually thousands of summer vacationers who fly there from various parts of the kingdom and the Gulf States. Different facilities, tourist services, hotels, furnished flats, restaurants and recreation centers are available. To the south of Baha city, there is the Asir area where the Sarawat mountains reach their highest point. The road from Taif passing by Baha to Abha, capital of Asir, is about 543 kilometers, and passes by a number of cities and villages. Asir area is distinct for its natural scenery, forests and wild trees which cover most of the region. At the foot of the mountains, agricultural bleachers are dispersed, which depend for their irrigation on rain that falls in the area in summer and winter. These bleachers produce the best fruits, vegetables and cereals. The area is also famous for the production of honey that is exported in large quantities to the other areas in the kingdom. Fifteen kilometers away from Abha is the second city in Asir, Khumis Musheit, in which commercial activity flourishes. The area also comprises a number of cities whose markets abound in local and imported products. There is a network of paved roads which connect the area with Jizan in the south and Najran in the southeast. Abha is connected with the capital Riyadh through Dawaser Valley and Aflag road, whose length is 1200 kilometers. The city is also connected to Jeddah with Oquba Shia'ar road which passes through the mountains across 11 tunnels and 32 bridges, and connects it with the coast road extending from Jeddah to Jizan, parallel to the Red Sea. The highest technology of road engineering appears in the tunnel which passes through the high mountains. Thus, Asir Tehama, the western and eastern plains, became connected to Abha and the neighboring cities easily. Since Asir is full of advantages, it was called the bride of the resorts. It witnessed huge expansion in services, tourist installations such as hotels, motels, furnished villas and flats, tourist villages, games cities, and recreation centers. Among these services is the cable car which carries tourists from the tops of mountains to the bottom. Visitors should pass by the visitors' center which is located two kilometers from the city center of Abha. It contains models of the area with pictures and information that is indispensable to the tourist. Here is a quick glance of the most important tourist sites in the area: 1. Al-Sawdah: It is located nearly 23 kilometers away from the west of Abha city. It is distinguished by its green bleachers and dense forests. The mountain of Sawdah is the most developed site in Asir, as its distance is 883 hectares. This site is singled out for environmental characteristics, the most important of which is the frequency of rainfall in the Asir area. Through it, dense fog and clouds passing by its forests and high mountains can be seen. 2. Al-Quara'a: It is 30 kilometers to the south of Abha and covered with dense trees over a distance of 420 hectares. Its park overlooks one of Tehama's edges, as one of its sites overlooks the deep valleys and the acute fracture of the rock edges. 3. Delghan Park: It is located 27 kilometers southeast of Abha and covers a distance of 440 hectares of plains. 4. Al-Mehala: It is located 12 kilometers from Ahba-Khamis Musheit road. It is a valley abounding in green trees, grass and water. 5. Al-Halabah: It is located 52 kilometers from Abha; it is a village situated in a deep abyss and the road to it appears like stairs in the mountains. 6. Forests of Hathwah: They are on the Abha-Taif way, and forests accumulate for a distance of five kilometers overlooking the Tehama area. 7. Dahna'a falls: They are located 110 kilometers from Abha near Tanoumah on the Abha-Taif way. A waterfall pours into a small lake at the front of the green valley. In addition to these sites, there are several gardens and parks equipped with kids' playgrounds, rest seats, buffets for quick snacks, cafeterias, car parks and artificial falls. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a coast on the Red Sea in the west, as well as one on the Arab Gulf in the east. Both are tourist attractions for citizens, expatriates and visitors. In Jeddah, which is called the bride of the Red Sea, the cornice extends to a distance of 100 kilometers, 45 kilometers of to the north and 55 kilometers to the south. It is decorated with green surfaces, fountains and beautiful maquettes inspired by the Saudi environment. There, places were set aside for sitting and swimming. Sea sports and promenades with boats are equipped for this purpose. The cornice was also provided with kids' playgrounds, toilets, phone cabins and car parks. Along the cornice, and near it, hotels, furnished villas and flats, restaurants, buffets, game and entertainment cities, shopping centers, gardens and parks are spreading. Such preparations are also available on the cornice of the eastern area whose length is 40 kilometers, with its two parts on Dammam and Al-Khober. The most distinct sites there are the lighthouse isle on Dammam cornice and the crescent artificial lake on Al-Khober cornice. There is the shore of Nesf Al-Quamar which is located near Al-Khober and Dammam, along which sunshades were constructed for sitting together, with anchorage for sea-promenading boats. Nesf Al-Quamar shore also embraces King Fahad Coast City which contains different facilities and closed and open sports courts. On this shore, there are several tourist villages and entertainment cities. In the south of Al-Khober, there is also Azizia shore, which has a sunset beach that has a number of chalets, swimming sites and sea sports. In front of the Al-Jubail industrial city, sand beaches extend, ornamented with marine facades unique in their shape and design, along with gardens, parks and coral reefs isles. What the Saudi shores offer in terms of tourist entertainment and recreation services for visitors, makes these sites into resorts that attract thousands of tourists who find comfort, enjoyment and relaxation.
In the summer of every year, with the start of the school's summer vacation, tourism-promotion committees, formed in the tourist areas in the kingdom, organize cultural and recreational programs. They also play an active role in inviting citizens to spend their vacations in the country, which is full of summer resorts and tourist resorts, to avoid the hardships and high costs of traveling abroad. This has had a great influence in encouraging Saudi citizens to travel within their own country.
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Best Western opens first hotel in Saudi capital
www.hotelcircleasia.com. Best Western International has launched its first hotel, the 86-room Best Western Orchid Hotel, in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
(06/08/2012)
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SAUDI ARABIAN MOTOR FEDERATION ANNOUNCES
The Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) has now finalised the dates and route format and will run the FIA-sanctioned Ha’il Desert Challenge in the north-central region of the Kingdom from Mar (17/02/2012)
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