Building a giant national park just to the east of Jeddah will give a much needed shot in the arm to the future of the city's much-discussed tourism industry. From everything we have seen thus far, it appears to be a well-planned, well-financed and truly visionary undertaking that will provide a world-class sheen to Jeddah and environs. Of course, nothing is going to happen overnight, but we will have to wait 15 years for this massive project to be fully completed. Hopefully, along the way, various portions of the facility will be made accessible such as wetlands, forest, hotels and residential units, a golf course, university and a research center. It promises to be a truly fascinating ride to completion. The facility, to be located in the Al-Asla' Valley, will attract international attention, similar to that afforded the architectural feats of Dubai and provide resort vacation possibilities for Saudis, our GCC neighbors and tourists from the rest of the world who will want to sample Jeddah and our desert heritage in sophisticated comfort. With the increasing opportunities for international tourism in the Kingdom, this will surely pave the way. The actual construction of projects such as these attracts great attention. The international spotlight will be shining brightly on us because of the physical magnitude and the tremendous cost of the park. The project must be carried out transparently and the best treatment possible afforded those whose labor will ultimately bring the park to fruition. It is an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to truly shine on the international stage, and more than whatever architectural wonders may grace the final project, it is the manner in which it is built that the world will watch most closely. __
