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Wednesday, June 6, 2012
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Arab Spring impacts Saudis’ summer plans JEDDAH: RIMA AL-MUKHTAR arab news staff
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any Saudi families used to head to Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Tunisia to spend their summer vacations, The Arab Spring had a big impact on what Saudis percieve as attractive destinations. Now most Saudis will travel to Dubai, Europe, Malaysia and Turkey for their summer vacation. Mohammed Tameem, a 53-year-old marketeer, owns an apartment in Tunis and has been spending all his vacations there. “I cannot afford to spend my vacation anywhere else,” he said. “So I really wish Tunisia would settle down before summer vacation starts. My wife and children would love to go to Tunis to spend Ramadan there,” he added. Exploring the Kingdom is an option to some Saudis and seeing what the country has to offer. “I have never been to Jeddah. Now that the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities has many festivals in Jeddah, I’m not worried about the entertainment, I’m sure my family will have a blast,” said Bandar Abdulhafeez, a 41-year-old businessman living in Alkhobar. “Visiting Jeddah has always been an option, but my family and I thought that it would be better to go to Cairo than staying in our home land,” he added. “We are excited to see Jeddah for the fist time. We will sup-
port local tourism and will experience it first hand,” said Abdulhafeez. Europe is always an attraction for Saudi people; most of them meet there every summer in the same cities. “My summer always starts with Marbella for three weeks then Beirut for two weeks. I have been doing this ever since I was a child,” said Salwa Hejazi, a 29-year-old businesswoman. “I am really sad to miss on Beirut this summer because it’s where I meet my friends from other Arab countries,” she added. “People have been sending out messages to me saying that Beirut is not safe to spend the vacation this summer. I will wait until the time to make the reservation and make sure if it’s safe. Then I will decide if I should go or not,” said Hejazi. Owning an apartment in Cairo is the only reason for 48-year-old banker Mohammed Al-Jehani to spend his vacation there. “I spend every vacation in Egypt because I have my parents’ apartment in one of the busiest areas in Cairo,” he said. “Knowing that I do not have to think about hotels and how expensive they are is just
a relief to me. I hear people talking about how expensive hotels get during summer and it makes me pity them,” he added. “This summer, I will also head to Cairo because I’m not sure if it’s a bad idea. If it gets bad outside, I can always lock myself and my family in the apartment and find indoor activities to enjoy,” said Al-Jehani. Thirty-two-year-old businessman Mohammed Akram said he had planned to visit his mother in Syria this summer but his plan was canceled. “It’s been a while since I visited Syria and I miss my family there. My mother is Syrian and she lives there with her sisters now,” he said. “I wanted to take my wife and children to meet my mother’s side of
The Giza pyramids.
Where to go in 2012 Jet van Eeghen jetvaneeghen@arabnews.com
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F you’re one of those people who hasn’t found the time yet to book that relaxing, inspiring yet slightly quirky destination for your next vacation, here’s Arab News’ list for the best places to visit in 2012. Tree house If sleeping in a regular house has become a bit of a bore to you, why not try a tree house? Cabanes als Arbres in Sant Hilari Sacalm, at a short distance from Barcelona, offers the pleasure of a stay in a house that is only accessible by ladder. The terrace of each cabin offers superb mountain views and breakfast is served in a basket that you can hoist up by pulling on a rope. www.cabanesalsarbres.com Island in the sun Only a small dot in French Polynesia is the island of Nuku Hiva. It enchanted the famous Paul Gaugain, who painted many colorful paintings here, and it’s easy to see why. The azure colors of the ocean lap the white sands invitingly as the lush jungle beckons at the other edge of the beach. Although Internet and mobile phones have made an entrance on the island, it still holds fast to its old charm. www.pearlresorts.com Greek windmills Kissamos Windmills are located on the Greek island of Crete in Drapanias, a coastal village near a great beach and surrounded by olive groves. The accommodation had been built to resemble traditional Greek windmills, which can sleep two to six people. It is a great way to experience the famous Cretan hospitality and the idyllic surroundings. www.anemomyloi.gr Rock ‘n Roll The Pavilion Hotel in central London is small, funky and ideal for artistically minded people. Its 30 rooms have each been designed individually and bear names such as ‘Green With Envy, ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ and ‘Casablanca Nights’. The hotel has rapidly become extremely popular with supermodels, actors, musicians and TV stars. If you’re looking for something different and glam, then the
Cabanes als Arbres
Pavilion is definitely for you. www.pavilionhoteluk.com Holy city Once a large commercial center on the Great Silk Road, Bukhara is one of the most ancient cities of Uzbekistan. Since Sheikh Bahautdin Nakshbandi developed the mystical Sufi approach to philosophy, religion and Islam in this place, the city has acquired a reputation throughout the Islamic world. The 350 mosques and many historical and architectural monuments attract an increasing number of people to this ‘museum city’. Olympic spirit To soak up some Olympic spirit, while giving London - this year’s host – a miss, you may want to consider Whistler in Canada. The city was host to the Winter Games in 2010 and is now ensuring its visitors can enjoy the facilities to the fullest. Of course the Olympic venues warrant a visit, but make sure you also enjoy the hiking, summer skiing, bear viewing and rafting. www.whistler.com Narrow streets In southeast Europe, in Montenegro, lies the city of Kotor on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. The most famous part of the city is its old town, where history, culture, and tradition are being preserved. It boasts a great number of medieval monuments: churches, cathedrals, palaces, and museums. A
multitude of narrow streets, squares, and markets complete its beauty. The old nucleus of Kotor has been listed an UNESCO world heritage site since 1979 and is considered to be the best-preserved medieval urban entity in the Mediterranean. www.visit-montenegro.com Under water Has scuba diving and the world below the sea surface always attracted you? The Poseidon Undersea Resort in Fiji is the world’s first seafloor resort and the only place where you can spend a couple of days 40 feet under water in a luxurious environment. The resort is located in the crystal clear water of a Fiji lagoon and is accessed by elevator. Make sure to bring a fair bit of money, as a week’s stay at the Poseidon will set you back about $ 30,000. www.poseidonresorts.com Victoria Falls The Stanley Safari Lodge in Zambia is the perfect gateway to the mighty Victoria Falls and exclusive getaway in an African setting. The views of the falls’ sprays in the distance and the mighty Zambezi River are splendid. Take a helicopter or a microlight flight to enjoy the falls from above. Or enjoy a sunset cruise, river safari, or canoe trip. For the more adventurous among you, take one of the best rafting trips in the world, go for a bungee jump, gorge swing or abseil. www.stanleysafaris.com
the family, but this plan was canceled. I guess I’m buying my mother a ticket to make her come here instead,” he added. Not all Saudis feel deterred by the Arab Spring unrest in neighboring countries. “I do not believe Saudis or other tourists should change their vacation plans because of political issues. The people who live in Egypt and Lebanon say it’s safe and they are fully functional,” said Tarik Elwan, a 34-yearold lawyer. “I am taking my wife and two children to Cairo and I know I’m going to have a blast there. I don’t believe what the media is saying about security in Egypt, I only believe what my Egyptian friends are telling me,” he added. Beirut is not out of the picture, said Nazeerah Dakheil, a 85-year-old grandmother. “I live in Beirut and return to Jeddah four times a year. I won’t come back during the summer because it’s the best time of the year here,” she said. “I have
seen the preparations for the summer in the streets and we’ll have some entertaining festivals and activities for tourists. It doesn’t make sense for me to go back to Saudi where nothing is happening,” she added. Dakheil said that she had invited her children and grandchildren to visit Beirut’s summer festival with her. Dubai has been on the rise as an attractive destination during summer. “Dubai is the best option there after Beirut, I love going there. The city has plenty to offer from shopping, entertainment and other activities for my family,” said Fatima Sabri, a 22-year-old college student. “We should be extra careful with politics and we never know what’s going to happen next in the Arab Spring. I think it’s best to stay close to home,” she added. Choosing to spend the vacation outside the Arab countries is the smart thing to do, said Elham Al-Houti, a mother of two. “My husband and I calculated how much we would be spending in Dubai and compared it to Istanbul. We found that we would be spending the exact same thing,” she said. “This made us decide to shift our vacation to Europe and we expect to have more fun there. It will also give my daughters a chance to see Istanbul for the first time,” she added. “Arab countries are best visited anytime of the year, except in the summer,” said 26-year-old stay-athome mother Alaa Ahdal.