Saudi Gazette report YANBU — The prices of renting tents at Yanbu beach reached incredible levels. According to visitors, the prices exceeded SR3,000 for the first time in many decades. Some attributed the price increase to a rumor that coast guards banned camping on the beach. Others said these beach sites were handed over to investors. Many other rumors helped the camping spiral. Visitors began quickly reserving spaces in Yanbu beach and Yanbu creek. Some arguments erupted between visitors who were fighting over tent locations. Some visitors even slept at the location before Eid vacations started just to make sure no one would hijack the site from them. A special tourism committee began issuing permits for visitors to camp at the beach a week before the vacation started. Visitors will have to comply with certain rules, including camping at least 20 meters from water, keeping at least a two-meter space between tents, keeping the place clean and many other conditions. Violators of these conditions will be punished and fined. The special committee specified a certain place at the beach for Saudi singles to camp away from the family area. Mansour Oboud, a frequent visitor to Yanbu beach, said the rising cost of renting tents shocked him. He said he had a tough time negotiating with the rental shop to bring the price down from SR3,000 to SR2,700. He said he had to share the tent with number of relatives so they would divide the cost. “With this price I can rent a beach resort for two to three days, not rent a tent to spend time at the beach,” said Oboud, adding that nine of his relatives shared the tent with him. “We rent the tent and the tent owner only sets it up. The price paid is only for the rental while we have to bring the rest of the stuff, such as the small water tanks, rugs and cooking stuff. At the end of the day we must forget about what we paid and try to enjoy the beach,” Oboud said. Muhammad Farhan, another beach visitor, said it is becoming extremely difficult finding a space to camp. “Each time I try to occupy a space, someone comes and claims that he had reserved it earlier. Sometimes it escalates into heated arguments, which could lead to a fistfight. In the old days we did not find any difficulty when camping. With so many visitors coming from outside the city of Yanbu, camping has become extremely difficult.” Ahmad Al-Arwi, beach visitor, said, “We prepare early before the Eid vacation because we know that the place will be crowded with visitors. The earlier we prepare the better places we find. These days the beach is beautiful and we stay away from the overcrowding of the city and enjoy the cool wind and the murmur of water. As for prices, it is rising every year and there is nothing we can do about it. I would rather enjoy my time than to think about how much I paid.” Maj. Tale Al-Shehri, head of public affairs at the Border Guard, said they intensify their presence during vacation to ensure the safety of visitors. “We are extra careful because the majority of visitors are from outside Yanbu and usually they are not aware of the dangerous swimming areas. We want to make sure that this holiday will end with no tragic incidents.” — SG
