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The Unfenced Desert Towards a strategy for eco ... - Nwrc.gov.sa

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Nearest over-night accommodation : On site, and within ~15 km. Four star<br />

accommodation available at the Al Hada Sheraton (60km) and the Taif<br />

Intercontinental Hotel (65km)<br />

Nearest towns (150 km radius) : Al Sudairah (20km); Taif (45km); Makkah<br />

(120km), and numerous settlements.<br />

Distance to regional centre (Emara) : Taif (45km)<br />

Nearest national sealed road : 0km, road to Sudairah Village; 10km to main<br />

Taif - Al Baha highway.<br />

Regional tourist attractions : Taif and Al Baha (200km) are major summer<br />

tourist destinations, and provide access to Jeddah and to Abha, the most popular<br />

summer resort cities in Saudi Arabia.<br />

Regional tourism developments : Hotels, family parks and picnic areas<br />

camping sites, and resort villages are developing rapidly along the Taif - Abha<br />

highway.<br />

Summary Assessment Notes<br />

Scenic and landscape : Attractive, but not spectacular rock <strong>for</strong>mations and natural<br />

vegetation.<br />

Wildlife : Unrivalled site <strong>for</strong> viewing native Arabian species in<br />

captivity.<br />

Cultural/historical : Rock paintings have only limited public appeal, but could be<br />

developed as part of a circuit tour in the extension.<br />

Existing facilities : Some day, and limited overnight, visits currently possible<br />

and underway, with scope <strong>for</strong> expansion of numbers without major new facilities<br />

being required. A more natural setting <strong>for</strong> wildlife displays would be possible in the<br />

extension, but would require significant development input.<br />

Location and access : Easily reached as a day trip from several major urban<br />

centres.<br />

Sensitivity / security : With regulated or restricted access around certain animals<br />

facilities and enclosures, the NWRC could easily cope with a reasonable volume of<br />

visitors.<br />

Potential activities : Guided tours, by bus, car or on foot, of the NWRC animal<br />

collections, with viewing of promotional and educational videos and talks by staff; a<br />

dedicated visitor centre, lookout points and circuit drives or walks, with picnic areas,<br />

could be established in the NR extension area, with a selection of animals visible<br />

within large natural enclosures.<br />

Rating<br />

1 = highly suitable <strong>for</strong> tourism; 2 = moderately suitable <strong>for</strong> tourism; 3 =<br />

unsuitable <strong>for</strong> tourism at the present time, or with specialised or limited public<br />

appeal or capacity only; 4 = unsuitable <strong>for</strong> tourism in the <strong>for</strong>eseeable future.<br />

Scenery : 2<br />

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