MITZPE RAMON, Israel: Israel has already been credited with making the desert bloom. Now it hopes to make it boom — with tourists.
Seeking to bolster tourism to its vast and largely undeveloped Negev desert region, Israel is promoting luxury camping trips, Bedouin hospitality and challenging outdoor activities like dune surfing.
In addition, a new international airport is rising from the desert floor 18 kilometers (11 miles) from the Israeli Red Sea resort of Eilat and the neighboring Jordanian port of Aqaba.
Tourism in Israel is big business, bringing in $5.8 billion in 2017.
Arrivals to the country of about eight million citizens hit a record 3.6 million last year, the Israeli tourism ministry said.
The United States, Russia, France, Germany and Britain accounted for most of the visitors.
The ministry says that it now seeks to grow the Negev’s share of total Israeli tourist revenue from the present five percent to 20 percent within two to three years.
It also aims to increase the number of Negev hotel rooms from 2,000 to about 5,000 within six to seven years.
Israel is marketing the desert as a unique destination on Europe’s doorstep.
“When it’s very cold in Europe, let’s say in December, January and February, we have very mild temperatures in the Negev,” the tourism ministry’s Uri Sharon told journalists on a tour of the sparsely populated region.
Activities include hiking, biking, rock climbing, abseiling and dune surfing — akin to snowboarding on sand.
The Negev is also home to a geological marvel: the Ramon Crater, the world’s largest erosion crater.
Salaam El Wadj has opened up the encampment where he lives with his wife, children and goats to visitors, who can stay in one of the tents and listen to his stories of Bedouin life.
“I was born here in the Negev hills,” he tells his visitors over strong, sweet tea.
Wadj relates how the arrival a century ago of British and French administrators and, in 1948, officials of the new state of Israel, brought a drive for modernization that disrupted and threatened the nomadic Bedouin way of life.
Hosting tourists, he said, enables him to preserve his heritage.
“They don’t want to just sleep in a Bedouin camp but also to learn,” he said.
Hikers can walk along part of the Negev Highland Trail, covering about 12 km a day between Bedouin camps while their luggage is transported by vehicle.
Near Wadj’s site, Hannah and Eyal Izrael have planted vineyards on terraces where Nabatean farmers cultivated vines 2,000 years ago.
Their Carmey Avdat winery produces just 5,000 bottles a year of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and other wines.
Eyal supplements his income by offering tourist accommodation in cabins and group tours to surrounding sites of interest rather than industrializing his winemaking.
Visitors can help run the production line and bottle, cork and label their choice of wine personally.
“All the time there are tourists from all over the world coming to the Israeli desert to explore, trek, taste our wine, go to other farms to taste goat cheese,” he said.
“The Negev is a very safe and accessible desert and it’s warm here.”
The vines grow in a natural basin, watered in winter by runoff from the surrounding hills and augmented with a modern irrigation system fed by desalinated sea water piped from the Mediterranean coast.
Not far from Carmey Avdat is the town of Mitzpe Ramon, which stands at the edge of the Ramon Crater.
There, travelers after tranquility with a luxurious twist can go “glamping” — glamor camping — in luxury tents with hot showers and a personal chef.
When inky night falls over the crater’s floor, there is the option of gazing through high-powered telescopes at the stars shining brightly in the unpolluted sky.
The Negev’s heart is only about a two-hour drive from Israel’s main international airport near Tel Aviv.
The new Ramon Airport will bring jumbo jets from around the globe to the desert itself.
Its website says that it will be able to initially handle up to two million passengers annually, but will be able to expand to a capacity of 4.2 million by 2030.
Low-cost and charter airlines currently flying to Ovda airport, about 60 km away from Eilat, will move to Ramon, it says.
They include Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet, SAS, Finnair and Ural Airlines.
Construction began in May 2013.
Israeli media say that the airport is expected to start operations this autumn, in time for the November-May winter tourist season, but the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) is making no official forecasts.
The IAA says the original specifications for the project were revised in light of lessons learned during the 2014 Gaza war.
After a rocket fired by Hamas militants in Gaza hit near the perimeter of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, international carriers suspended flights.
IAA spokesman Ofer Lefler said that the revised plans for the Ramon airport will allow it to serve as a backup in addition to boosting tourism.
“In an emergency, not only will Israel’s entire passenger air fleet be able to land and park there, but also additional aircraft,” he said.
Seeking tourists, Israel promotes a different sun and sand
Seeking tourists, Israel promotes a different sun and sand
Vibrant feathers in Asir’s cap
- Asir is home to a wide range of avian life, including endemic species such as the Asir magpie, a rare bird found only in this region of Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Asir, a region renowned for its natural beauty, is also a sanctuary for a range of migratory birds.
These feathered visitors, some of which have inhabited the region for millennia, contribute significantly to the area’s rich biodiversity. The region’s diverse habitats, from highlands to plains, provide ideal conditions for a variety of bird species to thrive, the Saudi Press Agency reports.
In the spring, the forests of Asir come alive with the vibrant colors and songs of these avian guests. The region’s blend of climate and topography attracts birds from around the world, including species from Africa, Europe and Asia.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Asir’s blend of climate and topography attracts birds from around the world, including species from Africa, Europe and Asia.
• The endemic species such as the Asir magpie is a rare bird found only in this region of the Kingdom.
• European species such as the European bee-eater also visit the region during the spring and summer.
The SPA team, accompanied by bird enthusiast Ahmed Niazi, recently embarked on a journey to witness the natural spectacle of gathered birds.
According to Niazi in an interview with SPA, Asir appeals to migratory birds through its diverse tree species and varying temperatures. The acacia, juniper and natural flowers provide suitable habitats for different bird species.
Asir is home to a wide range of avian life, including endemic species such as the Asir magpie, a rare bird found only in this region of the Kingdom.
The fall and spring seasons are peak migration periods in Saudi Arabia, as birds traverse the region on their journeys between the northern and southern hemispheres.
Migratory birds from Africa, such as the African paradise flycatcher, pied cuckoo and gray-headed kingfisher, find suitable breeding grounds in Asir’s humid southwestern highlands. European species such as the European bee-eater also visit the region during the spring and summer.
The book, “Birds of Saudi Arabia,” published by Aramco in 2020, highlights the Kingdom’s rich avian diversity; 499 species are recorded, including 401 resident or migratory birds and 11 rare species.
Flamboyant flamingos, sand dunes attract visitors to Al-Asfar Lake
- "The lake is known for its population of flamingos, which create a beautiful and charming vibe that visitors can enjoy at sunset"
MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Asfar Lake, a vast landscape teeming with bird and wildlife, is an important site on the route of many migratory birds.
Owing to its beauty and natural landscape, the lake is frequented by hikers, tourists and nature enthusiasts from around the world.
A tourist guide in the region, Deif Ahmed, told Arab News that Al-Asfar is one of the most important destinations for tourism in Al-Ahsa Governorate.
The lake dates back hundreds of years and has about 162 springs, he added. Al-Haql Spring, for example, produces about 80,000 liters of water per minute. Together with the Al-Khodoud Spring and others, fresh water moves into the Thmahlab River on its way to the lake.
Ahmed said that the spring water was known to be sweet and fresh, and was once collected and used by locals.
Bedouins used to set up tents around the lake, he added. The green flats around the lake could be used to feed sheep and camels.
In 1970, King Faisal ordered the establishment of a project to collect spring water pouring into the lake, to be used for palm irrigation in Al-Ahsa, Ahmed said.
The governorate had 11 million palm trees at the time.
The drainage and irrigation project guides water from the springs to palm trees and farmers in Al-Ahsa. The remaining water runs through agricultural drainage channels to Al-Asfar Lake.
Ahmed said that migratory birds stay around the lake because of the abundance of fish.
The lake is known for its population of flamingos, which create a beautiful and charming vibe that visitors can enjoy at sunset, he added.
Nearby, rolling sand dunes offer visitors an ideal vantage point to watch the sunset, Ahmed said.
Discover Jeddah brings the city’s soul to life
- Ali Almenaie’s tourism project resulted from the desire to tell the story of the ‘Bride of the Red Sea’
JEDDAH: Jeddah has long been the gateway to the Kingdom, playing a pivotal role in the nation’s economy through its historic ties to commerce and its unique position as a hub for religious tourism, primarily Umrah and Hajj.
With the launch of Vision 2030, the city was destined to be at the forefront of the National Transformation Program, which elevates the tourism sector and establishes an ecosystem capable of welcoming 100 million tourists annually.
In a stroke of serendipity, Discover Jeddah was founded in 2017 — the same year the program’s execution began. Today, the tourism startup is not just encouraging local and international tourists to visit Saudi Arabia, but to discover Jeddah, the Kingdom’s vibrant coastal hub.
The concept is pretty simple: it is all about telling the story of the “Bride of the Red Sea,” said Ali Almenaie, the CEO of the project with roots in Jeddah, where he was born and raised.
He told Arab News: “With too much information out there, I felt that there was a need to show Jeddah through the eyes of those who love it, so that those who have not visited Jeddah or those who have but did not experience the heart and soul of the city, fall in love with it.”
As demand for authentic experiences grew, Almenaie pursued certification from the Ministry of Tourism to become a registered tour guide.
In 2023, he launched Discover Al-Balad, a tour service offering an immersive experience of one of Saudi Arabia’s World Heritage Sites.
On Instagram, Almenaie has curated a visual love letter to Jeddah and Al-Balad, capturing people’s interest, sparking their curiosity and encouraging more people to visit.
I felt that there was a need to show Jeddah through the eyes of those who love it, so that those who have not visited Jeddah or those who have but did not experience the heart and soul of the city, fall in love with it.
Ali Almenaie, Discover Jeddah founder
“From a young age I found myself drawn to the art of curation, capturing and collecting images that resonated with the things I cherished most in life,” Almenaie explained.
“I was captivated by the power of visuals to tell a story. This love for storytelling naturally extended to Jeddah, the city of my heart. I began to gather images that could capture its essence, hoping to piece together a narrative that was both personal and profound.”
Almenaie added that he felt there was “a glaring absence, a silence where there should have been a vibrant, visual tale of Jeddah.”
He said: “The city’s story was out there, waiting to be told, but it was missing the richness that only images could convey. I realized that what was lacking was a visual narrative — one that could bring to life the soul of Jeddah, beyond words, in a way that was immediate and impactful.”
In addition to guided tours, Discover Jeddah offers advertising services that include storytelling about significant locations in Jeddah.
It also offers multilingual tours to ensure that everyone can easily appreciate the city’s significance and its heritage sites. It also suggests optimal times for tours, so visitors can make the most of their experience, capturing beautiful moments to cherish and share.
One tourist from Ghana provided feedback, which said: “This tour doesn’t just show you the structures and tell you the facts, it takes you back in time to sense, see, and feel the old city. The tour is very family-friendly and tailored to the interests of the audience.”
Almenaie said: “We are planning to add more tour guides who can communicate in Japanese, Chinese, Urdu, Hindi, and Malayalam.”
There are only five tour guides, including Almenaie, at present. The reason for the small number is to ensure that quality does not get compromised while giving tours.
And while the focus is on Jeddah, the company occasionally runs tours in Madinah, Makkah and Riyadh in Arabic, English, German, Italian, French, and Spanish.
To Almenaie, running a tourism operation means avoiding “a purely transactional approach to business.”
He added: “This helps us identify people who have a genuine interest in discovering the city, allowing us to focus our efforts on them and save time by not pursuing those who may not fully appreciate what we offer.”
The most common nationalities using the services of Discover Jeddah are Americans, Brazilians, Europeans, Indians, and Ghanaians. Domestic tourists have mostly been Saudis, and British, German, Russian, and Egyptian residents.
One of the veteran tour guides is Kholoud Abdulwassie, who used to live in Germany. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in zoology from King Abdulaziz University, which gave her valuable insights into the fauna of Saudi Arabia.
She has been with Discover Jeddah for two years now, and told Arab News: “My love for my city, especially the historic Al-Balad, where my family’s roots are and our houses still stand, drew me to this role. After learning about Discover Jeddah, I was eager to join a team that felt like the perfect match.”
Abdulwassie believes that each day brings something new, and added: “On tour days we welcome guests and lead them through the wonders of Jeddah. On days without tours, we focus on brainstorming and creating fresh experiences to offer.”
Al-Balad, with its captivating historic charm, remains the most popular destination. Other must-see highlights in Jeddah include the bustling fish market, the luxurious Jeddah Yacht Club, the serene Al-Rahma Mosque, popularly known as the “Floating Mosque,” and the picturesque Al-Hamra Corniche, home to the stunning King Fahd’s Fountain.
A brief tour of Al-Balad takes about 1.5 hours, while a more in-depth exploration, including its hidden gems, can last three to four hours. Full-day tours, which cover multiple locations, typically extend to around eight hours. These experiences often include tasting traditional Saudi food and learning about the daily life of a typical Saudi family.
Abdulwassie said that to engage with tourists from different cultural backgrounds was crucial.
She added: “It allows me to tailor each experience to the unique interests of our guests.
“As Jeddah natives, we’re accustomed to interacting with people from all over the world, especially during Hajj. My personal experiences, having visited around 25 countries and lived in Germany and Egypt, provide me with a broad cultural perspective that I bring to every tour.”
Among the most challenging situations Abdulwassie encounters is dealing with Jeddah’s humidity and blistering summer heat.
She said: “Summer weather can be challenging, so we design special routes with frequent air-conditioned stops to keep our guests cool and hydrated.”
She added: “I once had the privilege of guiding a UK traveler who was visiting Saudi Arabia as her 198th country. It was an honor to show her around, and she later invited me to her home in London. Together, we enjoyed marking Saudi Arabia on her travel map.”
Beyond Everest — discovering Nepal as a non-trekker
- From breathtaking nature to vibrant street life, Nepal is about much more than mountains
DUBAI: Nepal is best known as the entry point to the Himalayas and Mount Everest, but this beautiful country actually provides a host of options for all kinds of travelers — even those with no desire to summit a mountain.
From the bustling streets of Kathmandu and the tranquil lakeside views of Pokhara set against the Himalayas to the nature reserves of Chitwan National Park and the hilltop peace of Bandipur, Nepal is a treasure trove of all things travel — and that’s true whether you’re a backpacker travelling on a budget or a family looking to unwind.
Our two-week trip to Nepal began in Kathmandu, and my husband and I opted to stay in the famed Thamel tourist district. Thamel is where you want to be if you love all things food, drinks, art, music and shopping — although it’s a shock to the senses if you’re not used to busy South Asian city life. There are dingy tattoo parlors, storefronts offering rows and rows of beaded jewelry and miscellaneous art, live music blaring from every drinking establishment (and there’s one every five steps you take), and the best street food you’ll ever taste — if you have the stomach for it.
Speaking of food, we ate momos (Nepal dumplings) for breakfast, lunch and dinner because no two places make it the same and they are all great. Shout out also to Thamel House Restaurant for the best traditional Nepali thali (platter) we had during our stay. ,
We also took a day to explore the neighboring town of Patan. Once an independent city-state, it’s now considered a natural extension of Kathmandu. Its main attraction is Darbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you will find a collection of ancient Hindu temples and palaces. After exploring the main square, you can head to a nearby rooftop café for beautiful views of the town.
No visit to Kathmandu is complete without a trip to the Swayambhunath Stupa — known locally as The Monkey Temple, for reasons that become immediately apparent when you visit. Be warned: the monkeys will try to steal anything you’re carrying, so they can trade it back to you for food. And these guys are sneaky.
The trek to the stupa involves climbing exactly 365 steps but the sprawling view of Kathmandu from the top, and the tranquil vibe of the temple itself, are well worth the climb.
Our next destination was Pokhara, the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit, a famed trail in the Himalayas, popular with hippies, vagabonds and of course, trekkers of all kinds.
But trekkers we are not. We’d arrived in the beautiful postcard-perfect lakeside town for some well-earned downtime. And some uptime — I decided to get in touch with my mortality with a thrilling paragliding session over the gorgeous Phewa Lake, which brilliantly mirrors the mountains set against it.
We also spent an unforgettable afternoon kayaking there. If you venture out far enough, it really seems like it’s just you, the water, and the mountains.
It’s tempting to simply stay around the lake, but it’s well worth exploring Pokhara’s Old Town with its many ancient temples and traditional architecture.
Next, we spent three days in the cozy little hilltop village of Bandipur, immediately appreciating the total absence of tooting horns and exhaust fumes — motorized vehicles are banned within this historic hidden gem of a town, which was once an important stop on the Tibetan trade route. Its center consists of a single cobblestoned street, flanked on both sides by 18th-century buildings painted in pastel colors reminiscent of quaint little European towns. And there are a few old Hindu temples to be found too.
Most of Bandipur’s buildings have been restored, and are now quaint guesthouses and/or cafés. We stayed at The Old Inn, a charming traditional guesthouse with a terrace that has breathtaking views of the Annapurna range and the valley below Bandipur.
While our stay at Bandipur was mostly focused on enjoying its bougainvillea-draped coffee houses, leisurely strolls through the town, and sampling baked goods and traditional thalis, we also made time for a short hike uphill to the Thani Mai temple around sunset, where we were rewarded with more beautiful views of the town from above, bathed in golden light.
And just like that, even though Bandipur was added as a hasty afterthought to our itinerary, it became our favorite stop of the entire trip.
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Wahbah Crater ranked among world’s top geological wonders
- Crater was chosen from 174 nominated sites across 64 countries
- Recognition supports development of geological sciences in Saudi Arabia, says expert
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Wahbah Crater, a striking geological wonder, has earned a place among the world’s top 100 geological heritage sites for 2024.
The recognition by the International Union of Geological Sciences and UNESCO highlights the crater’s extraordinary significance not just within the Kingdom, but globally.
Al-Wahbah Crater, also known as Maqla Tamiyyah, is a maar crater — a type of volcanic site formed by a phreatic eruption, a violent steam explosion caused by magma interacting with groundwater.
The crater, located in the Harrat Kishb basaltic plateau about 270 km northeast of Jeddah, stands out for its immense scale and beauty.
Formed about 1.1 million years ago, it measures about 2.3 km in diameter and 250 meters in depth, making it the largest and deepest volcanic crater in Saudi Arabia. Its depth and diameter are significantly larger than the average volcanic crater, and it features a shallow salt lake formed by rainwater accumulation.
The crater is part of a larger volcanic field that includes 175 volcanic cones, dating back millions of years and spanning an area of about 6,000 sq. km, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Geological sites like Al-Wahbah Crater offer valuable insights into the Earth’s history and processes. By highlighting such landmarks, we enhance public awareness and support the advancement of geological research.
Abdulaziz bin Laboun, Chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Geologists Cooperative
Tariq Aba Al-Khail, spokesperson for the Saudi Geological Survey, highlighted the global significance of the Al-Wahbah Crater.
“The recognition of the Al-Wahbah Crater as one of the top 100 geological heritage sites is expected to boost its profile as a prime destination for both scientific study and tourism. This distinction emphasizes its exceptional geological features and underscores its significance on both local and global scales.”
The crater was selected from 174 nominated sites across 64 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the US, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, China, Iceland, Egypt and Finland, Al-Khail added.
The bottom of Al-Wahbah Crater is covered with white sodium phosphate crystals. While it was once believed that the crater was formed by a meteorite due to its circular shape and elevated sides, geologists now widely agree that it is a maar crater.
Abdulaziz bin Laboun, a geological expert and chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Geologists Cooperative, said: “Publicizing natural phenomena like the Al-Wahbah Crater through the media and highlighting their scientific importance is essential for enhancing their global profile and advancing geological research.
“This recognition not only highlights the crater’s significance, but also supports the broader development of geological sciences in Saudi Arabia.”
The crater has several unique aspects, Laboun added.
“The crater’s geological features are remarkable, including its depth, which makes it the deepest crater in the Kingdom, and its diameter of 2,000 meters. The area around the crater is characterized by natural springs, trees and palm groves, making it a rare and distinctive geological site. Moreover, its location in the volcanic field mainly adds to its uniqueness,” he said.
There are at least 23 volcanic fields formed millions of years ago in Saudi Arabia, covering about 90,000 sq. km, or about 5 percent of the Kingdom.
The eruptions in these fields vary, but what sets Al-Wahbah Crater apart is its formation in an aquatic environment — a characteristic of maar craters. “The crater is a stage for imagination, often associated with local folklore, including tales of a lover named Tamia, who, according to legend, flew from this crater toward Qattan Mountain in Najd,” Laboun said.
“Geological sites like Al-Wahbah Crater offer valuable insights into the Earth’s history and processes. By highlighting such landmarks, we enhance public awareness and support the advancement of geological research.”
