Kingdom gearing up for the tourist season!

Tourism has become one of the fastest growing sectors in the Kingdom and the stakeholders in the sector are making the necessary efforts to have a fruitful season.
As the time draws near toward the beginning of yet another tourism season, the Saudi Tourism and Antiquities Commission (SCTA) has planned several tourism events and activities for the mid-year vacation.
These festivals will be organized by the tourism development councils with the partnership of the authorities. With a view to enhancing the tourism sector in the Kingdom through these festivals, the SCTA and its partners are geared up with their preparations for the cultural, social, heritage, sports and entertainment activities.
An SCTA official at the commission’s headquarters here informed that around 30 tourism festivals and activities will be held in various regions of the Kingdom during the coming mid-year holiday.
The official said, “It is well known that Saudi Arabia is rich in the large number of diverse tourist destinations like heritage sites, archaeological, natural, cultural, entertainment and economic destinations as well as in the diversity of its terrain and its geography. These destinations, especially those with mild weather, attract a large number of visitors during the mid-term school holidays.” According to the commission the most important destination that enjoys a heavy turnout of tourists during the breaks is Riyadh, the national capital, which is considered to be one of the most important tourism destinations in the Kingdom in light of its diverse potentials in tourism, culture and heritage and shopping.
The city is experiencing a surge in development with a large number of parks, gardens, commercial complexes besides many other cultural attractions. It will host four festivals and events during the upcoming holidays namely the International Food Festival, Second Family Festival for Palms and Dates, Riyadh Secretariat Tournament for Skilled Driving and the Riyadh Comedy Festival.
The Eastern Province enjoys wonderful weather during the mid-term break, especially Alkhobar and Dammam cities which attract domestic and foreign visitors. The region will host five festivals, including the King Abdul Aziz Award Festival for Camel Decoration, Sci-Tech Knowledge Program, AlKhobar Tourism Festival, Al Nuairiyah Spring Festival and the Green Falcons Team Show.
Makkah and Madinah regions are also popular destinations during the vacation. Besides their religious importance, Madinah is also an important cultural destination in the Kingdom with Al Ula city occupying a significant position among the cultural tourism destinations attracting a large number of tourists from different countries.
It is home to an important site — Madain Saleh, a pre-Islamic archaeological site which UNESCO in 2008 proclaimed a site of patrimony, making it Saudi Arabia’s first World Heritage site.
The official further informed that the region will also feature the “Rodwan Al Bari” Festival in the coastal city of Yanbu in the upcoming mid-term holidays.
Jeddah and Taif in Makkah province include a large number of tourism, historic, heritage and coastal sites, besides attractive shopping malls and will also feature the “Haya Jeddah” festival, which has just kicked off in Jeddah on Friday.
Hail province is also a distinguished domestic tourism destination for people who wish to enjoy coastal tourism which is enhanced by stunning desert views and heritage.
Najran province, which unfailingly conducts the “Najran Spring Festival” during this period, enjoys exceptionally mild weather in addition to its beautiful natural and heritage potentials greatly contributing to the rise of tourism demand in the region.
Jazan province is famous for the “Jazan Winter Festival” which attracts thousands of visitors during the mid-term break because of its warm weather and its wonderful shores in Fursan.
Al Ahsa municipality is also famous for natural water springs, green areas, desert and environmental tourism in addition to cultural and heritage tourism, whereas Al Qassim province has wonderful heritage and historic sites with the availability of handicrafts and rural tourism, natural and cultural tourism besides festivals, two of which — the Buraidah Festival and Al Ghada Festival in Unaizah, are held during the mid-term breaks.
Tabuk is also distinguished for its diversity of tourism potentials and beautiful geographical terrain.
It will be holding the Fourth Khail and Hail Festival and the Second Child Festival during the break.