DAMMAM: Cities in the Eastern Province are crowded with holiday makers who have come here to spend their mid-semester break. This time the majority of the visitors are from the Western region of the Kingdom, especially from Jeddah. The cities of Dammam, Al-Khobar, Al-Hassa and Jubail are experiencing heavy traffic mainly at night due to the increased number of visitors. The Eastern Province has welcomed visitors with a very pleasant climate and cool temperatures. Vacationers cite several reasons for choosing the Eastern Province as their favorite destination. The havoc caused by recent flash floods in Jeddah is the main reason for increased numbers of domestic tourists in the Eastern Province. Turmoil in Egypt and unrest in other Middle East countries have also made people choose the region to spend their holidays. Malls and recreational centers in various cities in the Eastern Province are overwhelmed with crowds of people. Mid-semester holidays have turned out to be a blessing for shop owners as there has been a big boost in their businesses. Mohammed Mustafa, an Egyptian national, who runs a garment shop at a Mall at the Dammam Corniche, told Saudi Gazette that sales at his shop have increased. “There is a 50 percent increase in sales at my shop and each day we get more customers who are here to spend their holidays. Business is good this year compared to the same time last year,” he said. Areej, a Saudi national who came to Dammam from Jeddah, said she was there with her family because of the unrest in Egypt. “I usually go to Egypt to spend my holidays because I have family and friends there, but due to the recent situation, I chose to visit places inside the Kingdom. The cool climate in the Eastern Province is very pleasing and I am happy to have made this choice,” she said. She said that she wanted to go to Dubai to see the shopping festival there, but the expense was keeping her away. “I calculated the expenses and I don't think that my family can afford to spend a week in Dubai. With that money, I can visit more places inside the Kingdom,” she said. Authorities have organized spring shopping festivals in various cities in the Eastern Province. All the furnished apartments and hotels in the region are full with vacationers. The week-long holiday which started last Wednesday will end on Friday, Feb. 11.
