Abu Dhabi: Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Asir region and head of the Tourism Development Council, launched the Asir Summer 2020 Festival, which includes many summer programmes and activities in all cities and governorates of the Asir region.
This came during the inauguration of Khairat Asir (Asir Bounties) exhibition organised by the Asir Development Authority in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, on the Art Street, downtown Abha.
Prince Turki called on residents and visitors to Asir to follow precautionary measures to stem the spread of coronavirus, as the kingdom eases restrictions and returns to all activities, including summer festivals.
Asir Summer Festival, which lasts for 60 days, includes many events and activities that will be held across the governorates and centers of the region, in which all strict precautionary measures have been applied, Prince Turki said.
Prince Turki and the attendees watched a fireworks display which lit up the sky of Abha to mark the launch of the Asir Summer 2020 activities.
Mountain forests and towering peaks
Abha, the capital of Asir, is renowned for its mountain forests and towering peaks. For Saudis looking to avoid crowded sites during the pandemic, this is likely to be a popular destination.
With international travel restricted due to the pandemic, many Saudis are heading out to discover the beauty of the kingdom and the adventures at their doorstep.
Saudi authorities hope this will provide a much-needed boost to the kingdom’s tourism sector. On June 22, the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) unveiled a new domestic tourism campaign called Saudi Summer, which will run until September 30 and promote attractions in 10 locations across the country.
The cosmopolitan coastal city of Jeddah and the country’s capital Riyadh are among the 10 popular domestic destinations for travellers in the kingdom that will be highlighted, along with Baha, Tabuk, Dammam, Khobar, Umluj and Ahsa.
The city of Taif, which lies at the crossroads of two of the most important historical roads of the Arabian Peninsula, will also be featured in the campaign, inviting visitors to discover the frankincense road that originated in Yemen more than 3,000 years ago and the pilgrimage road to the holy city of Mecca.
