JEDDAH: The Saudi International Boat Show 2010 is scheduled to open Wednesday by Jeddah governor, Prince Mish'al Bin Majed, under the patronage of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Province, at Jeddah's Al-Furusya Marina and Yacht Club. The event is expected to boost business opportunities in the marine tourism and leisure sector in the Kingdom. It is expected to attract more than 30,000 visitors and businessmen. It has been organized by the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC), and managed by Al-Ahlam Marine Tourism Group. It has been endorsed by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) and will continue until Saturday. There is a strong presence of North American and European companies this year, with 135 companies from 19 countries participating compared to 88 companies last year. Prince Abdullah Bin Saud Bin Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Tourism Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that Saudis own a third of the world's yachts. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Prince Abdullah said that the domestic marine transport project – the marine taxi project – which was supposed to be operating, is economically unfeasible because of the high cost.
