Moderate weather in the Asir area and its high mountains, greenery and scenery are attracting domestic and international visitors. — Okaz photo Okaz/Saudi Gazette ABHA – Continuous rain, fog and hail in Abha city and Al-Sowdah, Al-Sahaab, Al-Far'a, Prince Sultan, Dalghan and Al-Habalah recreation parks are important attractions for tourists to Asir. Streams of visitors and holidaymakers, particularly youths from the Kingdom and Gulf countries, are continuing to arrive in the region. Moderate weather in the Asir area and its high mountains, greenery and scenery also attract domestic and international visitors. The spring-like weather has caused thousands of families to go out to enjoy the natural beauty that includes running streams in the valleys and ravines and green step-farms in the villages of Al-Sowdah, along with rainwater flowing in the streets and highlands blanketed with white hailstones. A number of residents of the area, including Abdul Rahman Salim Al-Asiri and Misfir Ali Al-Ghamdi said this will be a distinctive summer because of the rainfall and the resultant greenery everywhere. The weather promotes tourism in Asir, they said, adding that they went with their families to enjoy it and its effects such as rainwater swollen in the valleys and behind dams and the thick fog are enjoyable. Recreation parks and tourism facilities are crowded with the local residents and visitors after the rain and the appearance of thick fog on the mountains in Al-Sowdah and Sha'af Shahran. A layer of hailstones covered the green areas on Al-Sowdah Road and Al-Sahab recreation park, and attracted residents and visitors. Muhammad Salman Al-Zaidi and Mubarak Amer Al-Akkas, who came from the Eastern Province, were astonished by the beautiful weather, rain and hailstones. Sami Sultan Al-Harbi, who is visiting Asir with his family for the first time, said the events in the area led him to change his plans from vacationing in Cairo and Syria. He stressed that he is not regretting his decision because he has seen the greenery and beautiful scenery, and the area is safe. He said he was so impressed by the climate and the scenery in Asir that he intends to come back every year. Abdullah Mata'in, Executive Director of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, branch in Asir Region, was asked about high tourism-related prices and complaints he has received about exorbitant prices there, compared to those in other regions. Mata'in pointed out that the SCTA pursues those who hike prices and closes down the businesses if violations are repeated. He said recent visits by Prince Sultan Bin Salman, president of the SCTA, to a number of accommodation facilities has helped control the prices. __
