Fatima Muhammad

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The streets of Jeddah are still fairly quiet thanks to the one-month break following Ramadan.



Jeddawi families have scheduled their summer vacations to start only after Eid, with the preferred destinations Arab countries such as Dubai, Egypt and Jordan, Bahrain and Morocco.



Less people favored European counties and Asia, especially Malaysia and Indonesia.



Abdul Aziz Mirza, an employee at a travel agency, stated they have received more clients during the Eid break compared to just before Ramadan.



“Some couples delayed their honeymoons to after Ramadan, and many families also preferred to rest during Ramadan and travel during the Eid break.”



He noted that the popular destinations are Dubai and Istanbul. 



Fahad Saqr, a father of three, said he decided to book five days in Dubai.



He said: “I have been to Dubai twice and this time I wanted my children to enjoy a few days with me there.



“It is a welcoming, well-organized and modernized city, so why not go there?



“Add to that the fact we feel we are at home when we are there.”



Sarah Sabagh, a 22-year-old university student, said she is used to going to Egypt where her family own an apartment.



She said: “We have not gone there for years. This year we are thrilled to go again and get the joy we had during the old days.”



Sabagh will come back to Jeddah only one day prior to her university enrollment day.



According to statistics, Saudis account for over 35 percent of hotel reservations during the first half of 2014.



During the Eid break Dubai authorities were preparing to welcome some 300,000 Saudis.



The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism stated the number of Saudis visiting the country has increased by 2.3 percent compared to last year, 35,210 from 34,426.



The Egyptian tourism sector kicked off a campaign under the title “We Missed You!” that focuses on promoting increased security and stability in the country to attract visitors.



The Ministry of Tourism in Jordan claimed the percentage of Gulf tourists visiting Jordan increased this summer by 16 percent compared to the same period last year.



It said 55,000 came to the country, of which 43,000 were Saudis.