ABHA – The Asir municipality recently disclosed that it is working on 23 tourism projects in the region. In partnership with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), the municipality has identified potential tourism sites for development and made preparations for projects to be executed immediately upon approval. This came after a key meeting held in the presence of the Assistant Undersecretary for the Governorate for Development Affairs Ahmad Al-Qahtani, Mayor Ibrahim Al-Khalil; Vice President of the SCTA for Regions' Affairs Waleed Kassab Al-Humaidi, Executive Director of the SCTA in Asir Province Abdullah Bin Mata'in and Saad Thaqfan, Director of Planning and Development in the SCTA branch in the region. The meeting dealt with the most important projects in the region — development of downtown Abha, the central part of Al-Namas, Mahayil Asir and Bisha governorates, Sinnari recreation park in Al-Namas governorate, and the desert recreation park in Bisha. They also discussed a number of heritage villages including Al Yanqa' and Al-Olayyan villages, completion of Rijal heritage village in Rijal Alma', a study of the youth city in Al-Habalah, Al-Qahma coastal tourism resort, shopping city at the airport, development of Kodanbal island, Al-Yazid recreation park and the area surrounding Shamsan Castle, terrestrial recreation park in Tindiha Valley Dam area and construction of a helipad in Al-Huraidha. New projects were also discussed during the meeting and an agreement was signed between the municipality and the SCTA to develop a number of handicraft centers in certain governorates.
