Jeddah Historic District Thrives with Over 2.5 Million Visitors During Ramadan

The Jeddah Historic District welcomed a staggering 2.5 million visitors during Ramadan. (SPA)
The Jeddah Historic District welcomed a staggering 2.5 million visitors during Ramadan. (SPA)
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Jeddah Historic District Thrives with Over 2.5 Million Visitors During Ramadan

The Jeddah Historic District welcomed a staggering 2.5 million visitors during Ramadan. (SPA)
The Jeddah Historic District welcomed a staggering 2.5 million visitors during Ramadan. (SPA)

The Jeddah Historic District enjoyed a bustling Ramadan season, successfully implementing its service and crowd management plans to welcome a staggering 2.5 million visitors.

Beyond the impressive number of visitors, the district has emerged as a model for sustainable practices, urban development, and maintaining a secure, well-organized, and easily navigable environment.

The seamless operation during Ramadan can be attributed to a robust facilities management and crowd control strategy. A dedicated team of over 830 employees clocked more than 250,000 hours during the holy month, ensuring a clean and welcoming environment.

They utilized an arsenal of over 600 cleaning machines and tools, alongside over 16,000 liters of eco-friendly chemicals. This commitment to hygiene extended to the district's public restrooms, which saw a daily average of 5,000 users, and where water consumption had to be carefully balanced.

Waste management was prioritized. Over 1,900 tons of waste were collected and treated, alongside 70 tons of cardboard boxes, the equivalent of roughly 380,000 waste bags. This impressive feat was accomplished through more than 550 waste transfer operations to designated landfills.

On the safety front, over 1,000 security personnel safeguarded the district, supported by the presence of eight rapid response teams and six ambulances. Additionally, 350 crowd-control organizers strategically managed the flow of visitors at 14 locations. To ensure easy accessibility, 70 golf carts provided transportation to and from parking areas.

The Jeddah Historic District encompasses a 2.5 square kilometer area undergoing a comprehensive revitalization program. The program includes significant infrastructure improvements, building restoration, and a vibrant calendar of cultural events. The aim is to establish the district as a haven for businesses, cultural projects, and entrepreneurs, solidifying its position as a vibrant and welcoming destination for all visitors.



China Snow Village Apologizes for Fake Cotton Snow 

People walk along a street in Beijing, China, 16 February 2025. (EPA) 
People walk along a street in Beijing, China, 16 February 2025. (EPA) 
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China Snow Village Apologizes for Fake Cotton Snow 

People walk along a street in Beijing, China, 16 February 2025. (EPA) 
People walk along a street in Beijing, China, 16 February 2025. (EPA) 

A tourist village in China's southwestern province of Sichuan famed for its scenic snow landscape said it was sorry for using cotton wool and soapy water to create fake snow after online criticism from visitors went viral.

In a post on its official Wechat account on February 8, the Chengdu Snow Village project said during the Lunar New Year holiday at the end of January, the weather was warm and the snow village did not take shape as anticipated.

China is facing hotter and longer heat waves and more frequent and unpredictable heavy rain as a result of climate change, the country's weather bureau has warned.

"In order to create a 'snowy' atmosphere the tourist village purchased cotton for the snow...but it did not achieve the expected effect, leaving a very bad impression on tourists who came to visit," the Chengdu Snow Village project said in the statement.

After receiving feedback from the majority of netizens, the tourist area began to clean up all the snow cotton.

The village said it "deeply apologizes" for the changes and that tourists could get a refund. The site has since been closed.

Photos on Wechat showed large cotton wool sheets strewn about the grounds, only partially covering leafy areas. A thick snow layer appeared to blanket the houses in the zone but as you got closer, it was all cotton, said one netizen.

"A snow village without snow," said another user.

"In today's age of well-developed Internet, scenic spots must advertise truthfully and avoid deception or false advertising, otherwise they will only shoot themselves in the foot."