Two million tourists from within and outside Saudi Arabia visited Hada resorts in Taif last year, according to Khaleel Abdul Rahman Bahadur, a member of the Tourism Promotion Committee in Taif and the National Hajj, Umrah and Tourism Committee. Saudis and expatriates constituted 76 percent of the visitors, followed by tourists from other Gulf countries (17 percent) and Hajj and Umrah pilgrims (seven percent). He said pilgrims visiting Hada would cross 20 percent in the coming years as the resort is situated close to Makkah. He said the Bahadur Plaza hotel and mall in Hada would be officially opened this summer, adding that the project was carried out at a cost of SR150 million. "It's one of the largest housing, commercial, sports and recreational facility in Taif," he told Arab News. --MORE 1016 Local Time 0716 GMT
