Tourists flock to Madain Saleh, Al-Masmak museum

RIYADH: Domestic tourism is on the rise with huge turnouts recorded at various tourist destinations across the Kingdom, especially at the archaeological sites of Madain Saleh and the historic Al-Masmak Palace Museum in Riyadh.
According to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), Madain Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was visited by more than 20,000 people during the Eid Al-Fitr break.
The world heritage site receives visitors on a daily basis from sunrise to sunset but the number of visitors increases during weekends, seasonal holidays, as well as national and religious occasions.
An SCTNH official told Arab News that when the visitors arrive at the site, they record their names at the main gate before entering. They then use their own cars to visit the sites with the help of map obtained at the visitor's center.
“The site is witnessing an increasing number of visitors lately, both in terms of citizens coming from different parts of the Kingdom as well as foreign nationals, especially after the completion of site's development project implemented by the SCTNH, which included a visitor's center, the Hejaz Railway Museum, the Islamic Castle, and corridors and signboards and other facilities,” the official noted.
The Hejaz Railways station represents the cornerstone of the rehabilitation project of Madain Saleh. It is located in the northwestern part of the site and forms the focus of the tourist activities there, offering tourism information and museum exhibits.
The heads of diplomatic missions in the Kingdom recently toured the historic landmark with their families to see the sites in Al-Ula and the Hejaz Railway. The historical tour was organized jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the SCTNH.
Besides Madain Saleh, the historic Al-Masmak Palace Museum in Riyadh is a major attraction, with the museum authorities recently participating in the celebration of Eid Al-Fitr by undertaking special arrangements such as additional exhibits including historical photos, paintings, visual presentations and displays.
During Eid, museum authorities distributed a large number of publications by the SCTNH as gifts to visitors and guests.
The official noted that the Al-Masmak museum’s celebration of Eid comes as part of the strong partnership between the SCTNH, Ar-Riyadh Development Authority (ADA) and Riyadh municipality as important institutions that represent various aspects of the history of the nation and the cultural identity of the Saudi people. These landmarks also play a key role in raising people’s awareness of the importance of preserving the country's national heritage.