26 August 2016
JEDDAH: Taif has made its mark in the Kingdom as a leading tourism destination, and residents from all around the country are flocking to experience the culture, climate and the vast range of entertainment amenities available in the city.

Instead of sun-drenched shores during the summer, and busy malls, the city offers beautiful scenery in a hassle-free atmosphere, especially with the launch of the Souq Okaz festival that offers a number of activities like exhibitions, performances and folk shows, Taif has attracted wider demographic visitors.

Mohammed Salem, a local guide, said, "Although Taif is still in various stages of development, it is experiencing a boom in local leisure visitors. The plethora of events taking place in Taif has flourished and helped us to earn extra income. We help visitors to see the real face of Taif and have arranged a special trip to explore the Souk Okaz festival." According to an online newspaper, in 2015 the number of tourists and visitors to Taif increased to 3.5 million during the summer. The tourism sector considers it a sign of the boom in the Kingdom's summer resort and looks forward for more investment in the sector.

This continued tourist development during summer is attributed to the intense activities of the tourism department, the launch of various family festivals, and organizing of celebrations that suit the taste of citizens.

Likewise, hotels and resorts are providing special offers during the summer in a bid to attract visitors from around the Kingdom and from neighboring countries, which has also contributed to the tourist boom.

Abdullah Salem, manager of the Aroosa furnished apartments said, "Since Taif is positioning itself as a center for heritage and culture, there has been an increase in the number of visitors, while giving us an opportunity to earn higher incomes with the discount offers and packages that we offer to the guests." However, in general, by focusing on the development of a variety of types of tourism in the Kingdom, Taif is comparatively experiencing a greater footfall of tourism arrivals.

© Arab News 2016