BURAIDAH: Qassim has a struggling tourism industry with no spring break events in Buraidah, apart from the Qout Festival, which markets last year's remaining yield of dates, and Onaiza where residents have the Al-Musawkaf folk festival. Many Qassim residents traveled outside this spring break because there are few entertainment and tourist activities in the region. On developing tourism in the region, Dr. Jaser Al-Harbash, executive director at Qassim Tourism Board, said Qassim has a strategy linked to the region's natural attractions and environment as a fertile land for agriculture. He said the annual date festival has raised the profile of the region. There are activities taking place including heritage events, winter desert trips, spring trips and desert camping. In addition to “these areas of strength, the region is a pioneer in terms of (traditional) crafts, and is the only designated site for craftsmen in Buraidah, which also hosts a craftswomen's society”, he said. Investment hurdles Al-Harbash said there is a need to ensure effective regulations related to licensing, permitting tourist projects and enforcing proper rent contracts. “The mayoralty has taken good steps in terms of improving the mechanisms of tourist investment.” The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs is also working on amending regulations for improving tourist investment and tourism in general, he said. Another obstruction is financing, given there is no fund allocated for tourism development, he said. “Financing of tourism-development projects in the region depends on funds like the Saudi Credit and Savings Bank and the Agricultural Development Fund (which supports agricultural tourism projects with agricultural loans), with no fund allocated for lending to bodies working in the field of tourism,” he said. “This is a problem we face constantly. We hope for a fund to be established for building infrastructure, as tourism has proven to be a successful industry that involves the creation of jobs.” Yousuf Al-Wohaib, secretary general of the Tourism Development Committee in Qassim, said the main hurdle is the shortage of hotels and apartments. “What is available now does not meet visitors' requirements either in quality or supply. Besides, the region lacks attractions and high-quality and standard restaurants. Businessmen have a big role to play in developing and supporting tourism in the region where there are many investment opportunities,” he said. Innovative ideas To be successful in Qassim requires new ideas to showcase the region's unique geography, heritage and environmental characteristics, said Al-Harbash of the tourism board. An example of this is the “rural motels” project: a new type of accommodation at farms and agricultural fields, he said. “The project is a big challenge and the first motel is planned on a private farm in Onaiza. We want a tourist's trip to Qassim to be different.”
