Saudi Gazette report JAZAN — Visitors to the mineral hot springs in Al-Aardah governorate in Jazan, once a major tourist attraction, have decreased due to vandalism and the poor state of the site due to constant neglect by the authorities. The hot springs are believed to have rejuvenating and healing powers. People from all over the Kingdom and the Gulf region who came here to soak in the springs to treat maladies such as rheumatism and various types of skin diseases reported significant improvements in their conditions. Spread out over an area of 1.2 million square meters, the hot springs used to attract visitors from as far as North America and Europe. However, vandalism and constant neglect has led to a significant decrease in the number of visitors to the site. Local residents say the area has been neglected by the company that was contracted to maintain the site and surrounding facilities. The company has allegedly withdrawn its supervisors, private guards and tourist guides. Citizen Abdullah Al-Jabri said he is ashamed of the current state of the hot springs and suggested security guards be employed to guard the sites from vandals. “The area has become a safe haven for violators of the Kingdom's residency laws and is infested with frogs and insects, all of which represent a hazard to visitors,” he said. Ibrahim Masmali, a local resident, said he used to visit the hot springs every Thursday with his family but has stopped going there due to the deteriorating conditions, which have resulted in a constant foul smell in the area. He asked the tourism committee in the area and Jazan Municipality to pay greater attention to the hot springs. The head of the tourism body in Jazan, Rustum Al-Kabeesi, said Jazan's waterfront is undergoing major development and the hot springs area is under consideration for development so it regains its importance. “The emir of the province will be notified of the obstacles that are preventing the rehabilitation of the area and hopefully things will improve and tourists will start coming to the area again,” he said.
