TAIF — Thousands of Saudi and expatriate families visit the summer resort of Taif to spend the Eid Al-Adha vacation for its pleasant and salubrious atmosphere. Owners of rest houses and furnished apartments in the city exploit the season by increasing their rents. Prices shoot up from SR500 in ordinary days to SR2,500 in Eid holidays, making them unaffordable for most visitors, Al-Madina Arabic daily reported. Real estate owners claimed that they increased prices after renovation of their rest houses and apartments, furnishing them with expensive furniture and modern facilities, including televisions and satellite channels and swimming pools. They also pointed out that charges go up naturally due to big demand during Eid holidays to patch up off season losses. Saudi citizens are not happy with the exorbitant charges. Faisal Mohamed said realtors charge SR1,000 to SR1,500 for a small rest house for a single night. They charge SR5,000 to SR6,000 for three days during Eid holidays against SR400 to SR600 in ordinary days. “They take seasons as an opportunity to increase the charges in order to offset their losses in off seasons,” he added. Khaled Al-Qurashi: “Charges of rest houses have gone up to SR2,000 for a single night and for three days SR6,000. Charges differ in accordance with facilities they provide. In ordinary days, they charge between SR600 to SR1,000. When we say the prices are high, realtors say it's because of the season.” Khaled Al-Nafeei rented a rest house for three days paying SR5,500. "I had reserved the house before a month. There is big demand for family rest houses, especially those having swimming pools and child recreation facilities,” he said calling upon authorities including the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) to intervene to reduce charges. Badr Al-Qurashi said some customers who rented rest houses in the summer book them for Eid holidays when they are impressed by their facilities and services. “Many families use these rest houses in Taif as their annual meeting place with members of the same family coming to the city from different parts of the Kingdom,” said Saleh Mohammed Al-Nafeei. “Most families prefer rest houses that offer swimming pools, recreation facilities for children, kitchen and grilling areas.” Realtor Abdullah Al-Shahri acknowledged that charges of rest houses and furnished apartments shoot up during Eid holidays due to big demand. “Normally we charge SR500 for a night and now the charge is SR2,500, especially for rest houses having advanced facilities. Rest houses have nowadays become a meeting place for big families,” he pointed out.
