Tourism is a strategic industry

Tourism has become a strategic industry that is inexhaustible and does not disappear, but rather grows year after year. To achieve this, the Supreme Commission for Tourism has put in place all the components and capabilities available in the service of this industry, from cultural heritage, natural environment, legislation, capital, human resources, generosity and hospitality inherent to our people, and the security, safety, and stability that our country enjoys.

The Commission seeks for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be an

Arab and international tourist destination that attracts tourists who seek recreation, relaxation, and rest, or to visit holy places, as it is a bridge for communication with peoples, and the broadest window for dialogue among civilizations, and its effective contribution to highlighting the cultural and historical image of our country, in addition to its ability to contribute to the social development of residential communities near tourist and archaeological sites, and its role in preserving the historical heritage.

And on the artistic and cultural balance of the country. It also began to attract what is called conference tourism, and succeeded in holding new tourist events such as horse and camel races, festivals, and various exhibitions that highlight the specificity of each region and the cultural heritage and popular traditions it possesses.

Due to the Asir Region’s strategic location, it has recently emerged on the domestic tourism map to declare itself the undisputed bride of summer resorts...

as it has begun to attract lovers and connoisseurs of the beauty of nature mixed with the scent of the past. The ancient one.

Asir Region is characterized by its picturesque nature, which has contributed to making it one of the best and most beautiful regions in terms of green nature and fresh air with its highlands that embrace the clouds. Therefore, we find that all places in Asir Region are attractive tourist sites suitable for spending the most beautiful times, and the visitor can find in them what makes him happy and enjoyable.

The first national park in the Kingdom, known as the Asir National Park, was established in the Asir Region. It was established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water, which covers an area of ​​(450,000) hectares that includes the slopes and tops of high mountains and plains extending from the coast of the Red Sea in the west to the summit of Mount Al-Souda in the east. Some parts within this area have been developed.

While nature is a prominent feature in one location, recreation and entertainment comes as another feature in the other location. The Asir Region is distinguished by its majestic mountains, flat plains, beautiful sea coasts rich in stunning scenery, and moderate weather throughout the year, all of which are elements that contributed to its rapid development into a major tourist attraction.

This region stores many exciting tourist treasures, depending on its geographical map, topography and environment. These sites are represented in the parks near the cities in the region, and their number is 42 natural parks, including first-class parks and natural parks in the mountains and valleys, in which forests are primarily used as a means of attraction without major interference, as it is sufficient to provide some necessary services.

Tourism has accompanied the path of development, and since development in its beginnings was mainly focused in cities, tourism has emerged as a necessary social service provided by the state to city dwellers out of conviction of its recreational and health importance and its role in relieving the pressures of modern urban life, as

Saudi society had witnessed a major urban boom in only about two decades, and therefore attention was first focused on urban tourist attractions.

The cities and sea beaches were beautified, and parks, playgrounds, entertainment cities, and services were established. Accommodation and other things, then development spread geographically and covered most parts of the Kingdom, and this spread was accompanied by a significant increase in the demand for tourism and its practice due to the following factors: 1 - Rapid population growth. 2- An increase in average per capita income. 3- High urbanization rate.

4- Providing internal tourist attractions. 5 - Development of the basic structural structure. 6 - The spread of education. 6- Security and political stability. 7- Hospitality and good friendliness. The tourism sector is considered an important input into regional development, as it helps economic and social development in various ways.

The most important contribution of tourism to the regional development of the Asir Region is represented in four basic aspects: 1 - Developing and diversifying the economic and regional base. 2 - Reducing polarization by moving toward comprehensive regional development as a spatial tool for distributing the fruits of development to all regions of the Kingdom. 3- Developing the basic infrastructure.

4 - Modernizing and developing rural areas because developing tourism in the Asir Region countryside will give it vitality and alleviate the usual monotony and routine in these areas. It will also give it fame that will help encourage investment in it, and draw attention to the importance of preserving and developing natural resources and caring for its distinguished traditional architectural wealth and local heritage.

Hence, tourism in the Asir Region has received great attention from government agencies for many years, and this interest reached its peak during the era of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, where this interest took on a modern executive character under the constant and direct patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of the Asir

Region, who employed all the capabilities and all efforts to achieve an ancient and broad dream of transforming Asir into a

first-class tourist area comparable to the best tourist areas in the world by taking full advantage of the enormous tourism potential that the region contains, and through a series of projects.

High-end, comprehensive and modern tourism, providing high-level tourism services that keep pace with the latest findings of this advanced industry, and establishing a wide network of modern and advanced public facilities covering the entire area of the region.

If we consider that the time period of the tourism experience in the Asir Region is very short compared to the giant tourism achievements that have been achieved, it can be said that the direction in which Saudi tourism is moving is the correct direction towards the future and the desired development, and it heralds impressive results if planning and work continue at the same pace.

Because the facilities, tourism resources, and location represent the supply side of the tourism industry, the offer offered by Asir Region is considered one of the very tempting offers, as the facilities have begun to expand little by little and include more activities and sites, and the available tourist resources have become so numerous that they allow the tourist to choose what suits him.

In addition to the natural resources distributed over the mountains, valleys, plains, beaches, and deserts, there are modern resources such as entertainment cities, cable cars, rest houses, and sites for practicing some special activities, and all of them.

They constitute excellent attractions, and the geographical location of the Asir Region helps in making it a multi-purpose and multi-form tourist area in which multiple types of tourism are available, such as mountain tourism, beach tourism, and sand tourism, in addition to achieving driving pleasure for those who love driving cars on mountain roads, and thus Asir is an integrated tourist region that is active and multi-style throughout the year.

The cultural location between the Hijaz and Yemen enriches the vocabulary of culture, architectural styles, agricultural styles, and folklore.

As for the wide and modern hotel services that have spread throughout the region, the most recent and most recent of which were the housing services belonging to the new National Tourism Company projects that were inaugurated at the end of the year 1417 AH by His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General during the celebration of the National Saudi Tourism Festival and

Exhibition in Abha.

These were added to the 26 hotels operating in the Asir Region, which number 26 hotels with a capacity of 3,400 beds, and centers. The number of furnished apartments, which reached 112 centers, contains 1,219 furnished apartments, and the tourist villages and furnished villas that are suitable for Saudi and Gulf families. There are nine villages containing 150 villas, 23 apartments, and 14 suites, all furnished and equipped.

There are many service tourism projects under implementation, which heralds a wonderful tourism future. The modern services available in the region include advanced health services available with the latest equipment and covering all tourist sites in the region, and modern communications services that connect the region with all parts of the vast Kingdom and anywhere in the world with the utmost ease and ease.

Mobile phone service was the latest addition to advanced communications services.

There are air and land transportation services and car rentals available in the cities of the region on a regular and permanent basis, and catering services, as large numbers of restaurants, canteens, rest houses and kitchens are spread throughout various locations in Asir, which provide all types of foods and cuisine that suit different tastes.

The markets in the cities and villages of the region contain everything that the tourist needs in terms of goods, merchandise and products, in addition to traditional popular local industries.

The municipalities and village complexes in the region follow up on the activity of various services, organize them, and monitor their work, in addition to carrying out their permanent duties in the public services that we talked about before, in order to maintain a good level that presents an excellent image of the region, and at the same time indicates an understanding of the methods of dealing with modern tourism, considering that tourism is an industry with

precise foundations and regulations that depend on direct dealing with visitors and those coming to the region and are supposed to win them over to become regular customers who want to visit it constantly.

Talking about the tourism achievements in the region must include the giant projects that have been implemented, relying on the integrated natural components available therein, within the framework of the policy of transforming tourism in the Asir

Region from a seasonal summer activity for several months each year to a permanent tourism activity that continues throughout the year according to organized programs that include taking advantage of the various tourism elements available in the mountains, plains, hills, valleys, and deserts, and which is implemented by adopting modern methods in all works.

At the forefront of the tourism projects that were completed in record periods are the projects of the National Tourism Company, in various places, which are:

Al-Souda Tourist Resort is located at the highest peaks of the Sarawat Mountains, at an altitude of 3,000 meters above sea level, amidst juniper trees that form natural forests that represent the largest green cover in the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf.

In its depth, the largest Asir National Park was established, which included equipped places for sitting on the edge of the cut overlooking valleys 1,800 meters deep and providing the viewer (Bano Rama) with an enjoyable view of part of the Tihama region, its plains and its villages. Al-Souda is approximately 20 kilometers northwest of Abha, and 35 kilometers from Abha Airport.

Al-Souda Tourist Resort is one of the projects implemented by the National Tourism Company ((Tourism)) and consists of: 1 - Al-Souda Tourist

Resort, which consists of 60 equipped and furnished residential villas and private housing for companions, in addition to gardens, pedestrian walkways, seating areas, and children’s playgrounds, as well as a mosque, a commercial center, restaurants, cafeterias, a car service center, a medical clinic, and a security center, all of which provide their services 24 hours a day.

2 - Al-Soudah Suspended Cars ((cable car)) contains “14” moving carriages suspended on iron ropes with a length of “7” km and a depth of 1800 meters to serve vacationers and residents as a means of transportation between Tihama and Al-Sarat. These carriages are equipped with the latest comfort and safety means.

3 - The overlook consists of places to sit in complete privacy on the edge of the cut, from which one can see part of the Tihama region with its villages and valleys, and follow the movement of the cable car as it transports visitors from the bottom of the valley to the highest peak in the Sarawat Mountains, up and down over a distance of 7 km, and at an altitude of more than 1,800 metres.

4 - Al-Souda Resort Recreational Park, which covers an area of ​​ten thousand square meters and includes various recreational activities, children’s playgrounds, cafeterias, parking lots, and support services.

(New Abha Tourist Resort) is considered one of the largest projects of the National Tourism Company (Tourism) and is located on an area of ​​275 thousand square meters and at an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level.

The project features a unique view of the calm waters of Abha Dam Lake and includes the following: 1 - Abha Palace Hotel, which includes 150 premium-class rooms and suites in a spot characterized by its picturesque nature in the Asir Region, surrounded by the calm waters of the Abha Dam and with a direct view of the city of Abha.

The hotel was designed and equipped according to the highest international standards to reflect unique levels of service mixed with authenticity and luxury.

The hotel rooms are characterized by elegance and luxury, with a stunning view of the Al Sadd Lake, the city of Abha at the same time, and a village of gardens and water games. As well as the marketing opportunity in the commercial center adjacent to the hotel, so that guests and various family members can spend times full of fun and excitement.

2 - The Al-Wadi (tourist) motel with a capacity of 80 rooms and suites, 123 villas with 3 bedrooms and reception, living and service halls, 27 villas with 5 bedrooms, 114 apartments ranging in size from one to two bedrooms and their services, a medical clinic and other service facilities, gardens, children’s playgrounds, pedestrian and sitting paths, car parks, a mosque, a commercial centre, a supermarket and others.

3 - The new Abha cable cars, which consist of 14 cars moving on iron ropes with a length of 4.5 km, linking (New Abha Tourist Resort) and (Abha Palace Hotel) with the Abu Khayal Mountains, passing through the rocky cut. The trip provides the opportunity to enjoy a stunning view of the Tihama region on one side and the city of Abha on the other, and all vehicles are equipped with the latest amenities and safety.

4 - Mount Dharra Suspension Cars ((cable car)) consisting of 8 moving carriages suspended on iron ropes with a length of 2.6 km, linking Mount Abu Khayal and Mount Dharra, on whose summit there is a group of restaurants and open seating areas overlooking the city of Abha and its plains.

5 - The new Abha Resort’s recreational park, with an area of ​​70,000 square metres, includes all recreational activities, water games, cafeterias, and sessions, with a direct view of the Abha Dam Lake, in addition to parking lots, pedestrian walkways, gardens, and support services.

Al-Habla is the name of a village that was inhabited, part of which was located in a deep chasm 300-500 meters deep. The only means of transportation for its residents was ropes, and they were transferred a long time ago to King Faisal Charitable Village, which was prepared for them with all facilities and services.

Today, Al-Habla has become the most prominent tourist attraction in Asir due to its vertical cuts in the mountains overlooking the ancient village of Al-Habla and part of Tihama.

The area is at an altitude of 2,200 meters above sea level. Al-Habla is 50 kilometers from the city of Abha and 40 kilometers from the city of Khamis Mushait. It is connected to the cities of the region by a network of paved roads along which the landscape can be viewed. The tourist projects in Al-Habla are: 1- Al-Habla Tourist Resort, which consists of 20 equipped and furnished residential villas, and private housing for companions.

It has various facilities and supporting services such as gardens, pedestrian walkways, seating areas, children’s playgrounds, a mosque, a commercial center, restaurants, cafeterias, a car service center, a medical clinic, and a security center, and its services are provided 24 hours a day.

2 - The cable cars (cable car) consist of four moving cars on an iron rope to transport visitors from the top of the rock pieces to the ancient village of Al-Habla, at a distance of 600 meters and a height of 450 meters, and to enjoy viewing the vertical mountain cuts. These vehicles are equipped with the latest means of comfort and peace.

3 - The overlook, where seating places have been prepared with complete privacy on the edge of the rock cut, from which part of Tihama and the ancient village of Al-Hibla can be seen, and the movement of the cable cars can be followed as they transport visitors between the bottom and the top of the rock cut.

4 - The recreational park, which covers an area of ​​30,000 square meters within the natural forest and contains all the various activities, children’s playgrounds, restaurants, sessions, and other facilities and services.

Al-Fara'a is one of the tourist attractions in the Asir Region. It is located at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. It is a flat area covered by a forest of juniper trees and there are Asir National Parks. Al-Qara'a is 25 km from the city of Abha and 30 km from the city of Khamis Mushait and is connected to the cities of the region by a main road network.

The following projects are located in the Al-Fara'a region: 1 - “Al-Fara’a Tourist Resort”, which is one of the projects implemented by the National Tourism

Company ((Tourism)) and consists of 100 equipped and furnished residential villas, including gardens, pedestrian walkways, seating areas, children’s playgrounds, a mosque, a marketing center, a restaurant, cafeterias, a car service center, a medical clinic, and a security center, and provides its services 24 hours a day.

2 - The recreational park, with an area of ​​15,000 square meters, can be expanded and includes recreational activities, children’s playgrounds, shops, and cafeterias. In addition to parking, gardens and pedestrian walkways. 3 - (Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Park) in Al-Fara’a, which was included in the parks of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water in Asir.

The National Tourism Company “Siyaha” was able to implement more than 500 diverse residential units, including villas, apartments, and suites between one and five bedrooms, and their services, in addition to hotels and motels in various locations in the Asir Region, according to the latest specifications and the quality of the building materials used in them. They were designed between stand-alone villas and attached villas.

The tourist residential units are distributed among the resorts of: New Abha Tourist, Al Soudah, Al Habla, Al Fara’, and the Abha Exhibition Center and its affiliated resort.

Among the other development tourism projects inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Abdul in the Asir

Region, there is an airport tourist motel consisting of 60 suites and residential villas equipped and furnished, and it includes a commercial center and a health center, a bowling alley equipped with the latest equipment and recreational services, an indoor gym, and an integrated health club that contains swimming pools, a gym, a health club, various recreational services, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and restaurants.

Cafes, as well as open sports fields for playing tennis, football, basketball, horse riding, and car racing, in addition to gardens, children’s recreational playgrounds, cafeterias, and parking lots.

The Abha International Exhibition Complex, which is 1 km away from Abha Airport, consists of five exhibition halls, covered and uncovered, with a total area of ​​more than 8,000 square metres, in addition to a main seminar hall, a 600-seat theatre, a VIP lounge, meeting rooms, a reception hall, management offices, support services, and parking.

The locations of these three projects were chosen because they are adjacent to Abha Airport, in the middle of the cities of Abha and Khamis Mushhait, and for easy access via a major road network.