Tariq A. Al-Maeena
THERE is a noticeable drive in Saudi Arabia to get more tourists in. Tourists who could and would spend time and money exploring the different regions of the country, some for historical reasons, while others in pursuit of a religious nature. There is also the realization that tourism can bring in a significant addition to the national budget as has been the case with neighboring Dubai.
Jeddah is fortunate in having its’ fair share of tourists during summer months and school breaks. During the shorter breaks families in towns and villages make a beeline for the larger cosmopolitan cities and those that stride a coastline are usually the ones in greater demand. But such trips also pose a host of questions on the minds of those coming in.
Families who make such trips have expressed their concerns on many forums. Decent and affordable accommodation is high on their list. If a family of four to six persons is to be encouraged to stay here longer, then there must be an end to the price gouging of furnished flats and apartments that think nothing of charging some of these travelers upwards of SR 6,000-SR 10,000 per week for acceptable accommodation during this period.
It would be cheaper for such a family to fly out to the beaches of Alexandria or the cool mountain rest houses in Oman for less. And stay at 5-star hotels with breakfast included!
Another common gripe is the lack of access to the beachfront on this coastal city that sits besides the Red Sea. As most of the internal tourists are coming here from land locked towns and villages, access to the open sea is high on their agenda. But sadly, there is little public access. Everything else is gated or expensive. Prices of SR5,000-SR 8,000 per day and upwards is not uncommon for a beach cabin, denying most of our visitors a chance for a quick view and dip in the refreshing coastal waters of the Red Sea.
It while our municipality has shown evidence of improvement in stretches of the Corniche, there still remain an ugly collection of half built concrete buildings and fast food restaurants that have all but blocked most visitors from getting to the shores and getting their feet wet. The whole length of the Corniche could allow our visitors the serenity of softly crashing waves, but alas that is yet to be.
Lack of public toilets is a major nuisance. While a few have been added, more are needed and especially in public parks. And that is something the municipality must consider if it is serious about encouraging tourism. Nothing could be more annoying than when having to go, but not finding a nearby place to do it in.
There are a few amusement parks, but nothing worth a mention. Shrewd businessmen take note. In a country with a burgeoning population and doting parents, I cannot think of too many other investments that would provide immediate profitable returns than properly planned and modern amusement parks.
As for food and shopping, most visitors are very satisfied with the diversity of both. Jeddah is multi-cultural, and the variety of ethnicities of its people shows up in their foods. And prices are very reasonable. Shopping here nets goods from all over the world, and while Westerners flock over to the gold souks, the domestic tourists invade department stores and shopping malls. But malls have to be more imaginative to capture the tourist buck, and try to capture the interest of the entire family. It will need more than just the standard sales.
While traffic remains a nightmare and there seems to be no solution in sight, visitors will have to contend with such irritations until our road system is straightened out.
Meanwhile, with a few minor changes to the way we do things, and with little extra investment in the right place, Jeddah can indeed become a more fun place to visit, and the extra money flowing in could help as well.
— The author can be reached at talmaeena@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @talmaeena
