The rentals of chalets have increased by 50 percent and occupancy rate has increased 100 percent due to the promotional and marketing offers made by companies which own chalets in Sharam Obhur area in north Jeddah. Those associated with tourism trade say that the rentals have skyrocketed due to the influx of tourists to Jeddah amid nice weather conditions in the city which people want to enjoy during the spring break. They said the volume of deficit in the sector of furnished apartments hit 25 percent. Hotel and furnished apartment occupancy has reached 90 percent, they said. They also encouraged those who look for high profit-generating businesses to try investing in tourism adding that the market needs more investors. Ahmad Banemah, who is in charge of reservations at a tourist company in North Obhur, said that most tourist companies came up with very attractive offers last week which targeted the high-income group. “Most companies focus on this group as they fear that their chalets would otherwise be damaged,” he said. “The prices increased are from SR2500 to SR4000 in Durat Al-Aroos and North Ubhur.” Studies have shown that the Umrah sector creates 1500 seasonal jobs for Saudis in Makkah, Madina and Jeddah. Muhammad Khoja, member of tourism committee, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the city does not have a sufficient number of furnished units and hotels and the increasing number of visitors requires that more furnished units and hotels should be built. Saad Al-Qurashi of national committee of Haj and Umrah, Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said there is a 15-20 percent increase in the number of Umrah pilgrims this season as compared to the last season. He expected that this year will see some one million more Umrah pilgrims than the last year. “The rate of occupancy in Makkah hotels is 100 % which shows the large number of Umrah pilgrims who have arrived so far.” Al-Qurashi said it is important to allow the thirty-five suspended Umrah companies to work again so that they can accommodate more pilgrims.
