The islands of Farasan has seen a large influx of visitors from around the Kingdom over the last few days for the Parrot Fish Festival, which was officially kicked off Wednesday. Such were the numbers that some visitors appealed to authorities to limit price rises as hotels and furnished apartments for let registered a demand far outstripping supply, sending the cost of a single room from SR100 to 300 for a night. Other commercial outlets have also seen considerable demand-motivated price rises, notably restaurants, launderettes, and car rental firms. Misfir Al-Wateed, the head of the municipality, described the occasion as a great opportunity for businessmen in the region and beyond to invest in accommodation facilities, and expected demand to only increase in the coming years, notably during spring and festival seasons. “There are many islands here awaiting investment,” Al-Wateed said, “and the governor of the region has paved the way for that to happen by eliminating red tape.” Plans for the Farasan airport have also been given the go-ahead. Prince Muhammad Bin Nasser Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Jizan, on Thursday will take part in catching the Parrot fish. The festival is hosting a variety of events, including dance displays, and the performance of songs and traditional chants. Events begin at first light in the morning when the fish shoals arrive in their hundreds and thousands and young fishermen wade out into the waters carrying small round nets with which they scoop up the fish. In a traditional custom, the fish is offered in homes by women to couples who have been married for less than a year. The Parrot fish itself is not more than 40 cm in length and passes through the waters of Jizan which are warm and shallow, offering attractive areas for the Parrot fish to lay its eggs and seek food.
