Saudi Gazette report
JEDDAH — The city of Jeddah has been witnessing a flurry of activities this summer as thousands of visitors descend on the city from various parts of the Kingdom and outside the country.
Not only is Jeddah the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques, but it has many recreation centers, malls, parks and historical sites and monuments, all of which are air-conditioned and are a safe haven from the uncharacteristically hot summer this year.
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) in Makkah region has made preparations for summer season early, Muhammad Al-Amri, executive director of SCTA in Makkah, said.
There are field teams working around the clock to ensure that services are available to visitors in Jeddah, Makkah and Taif, he said. All SCTA branches have more or less completed their tasks of providing the visitors with utmost hospitality and comfort, he said.
Al-Amri drew attention to the importance of developing attractive tourism services in Jeddah and Taif, cities on which the Kingdom's tourism industry heavily relies on. He said Jeddah is capable of being a leading force in the tourism sector due to the ongoing massive projects to beautify the city.
Taif is also a leading contender due to its mountainous terrain and cool weather.
Al-Amri lauded the continuous support the organization receives from Prince Sultan Bin Salman, president of SCTA, and his directives to participate effectively in different activities.
He also praised the continuous monitoring by the Tourism Development Council under the chairmanship of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region.
Field teams in Jeddah governorate have intensified their efforts to prepare popular sites and different programs during the summer, a period when visitors to the city reach their peak and hotel occupancy rates hit 80 percent. The teams monitor hotels and furnished apartments and also cooperate with organizers of the Jeddah Ghair Festival.
Jeddah is a 3,000-year-old city founded by a group of fishermen. The history of Jeddah is closely linked with the development of Islamic history as the Red Sea coastal city is the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques.
It won this status when Caliph Othman Bin Affan in 25H chose it to be the port for Makkah. Its importance increased with the passage of time until it became one of the biggest and most important cities in the region. Jeddah has over 330 malls and hundreds of monuments designed by world renowned sculptors. What adds to Jeddah's beauty is its Corniche that extends along the coast for over 20 miles. It offers some of the most scenic views of the Red Sea.
