By Abdul Hadi Al-Rizqi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

TAIF – Shafa, located 20 km southwest of Taif, lacks public facilities and services required by thousands of tourists and holidaymakers who visit the resort, residents said.

Located 2,500 meters above sea level Shafa is one of the most beautiful places in the summer resort of Taif, with its natural scenery and salubrious climate.

Tourists have complained about lack of drinking water and bank branches. It has only one ATM, which is often out of service, and a single gas station.

Residents have urged the municipality to ensure Shafa’s cleanliness and protection of its environment. They wanted police to track down illegal foreign workers who use the place as a hideout.

“It’s unfortunate that Shafa has only one health center with meager medical facilities,” said Ahmed Eqab, while speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

He said Shafa requires more development projects considering its tremendous growth. “It lacks a drinking water network and visitors find it difficult to quench their thirst.”

“Shafa is a marvelous tourist resort and home to 4,000 people, who live in 21 villages. Public services and facilities in the resort do not meet the requirements of tourists who come from different parts of the Kingdom and abroad,” Eqab said.

Mohammed Miadad said the Taif municipality and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage have not yet exploited the tourism potential of Shafa.

He called for increased presence of security and traffic police in the region to ensure security and safety of tourists, including those who come from neighboring GCC countries.

He emphasized the need to establish a Red Crescent Authority office and bank branches in the resort. “Shafa needs development projects to make it more attractive to tourists.”

Abdul Rahman Al-Sufyani agreed that Shafa lacked basic facilities required by the growing number of tourists. He urged police to track down illegal workers who hide in Shafa mountains.

“We have been hearing about projects to develop Hada and Shafa resorts in Taif for the past years but we don’t see any progress on the ground,” Al-Sufyani told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

Nader Al-Majnouni said Shafa required residential buildings, shopping centers, pharmacies hotels, restaurants, petrol stations and other facilities to meet needs of visitors.

Ibrahim Fadil Al-Sufyani, a member of the municipal council, described Shafa as one of the most beautiful tourist centers in the Kingdom. He urged the municipality to take immediate measures to improve services and facilities in Shafa in order to woo tourists and visitors.