RIYADH, 24 April 2005 — A Riyadh Tourist Festival, described as the first for the capital, will be held here from June 15 to July 7, as a novel experiment in domestic tourism.
The festival was announced at a press conference by Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy, president of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCCI), who said a total of 140 events will be organized for the occasion.
All shopping and recreation centers will offer up to 30 percent discounts during the festival period, and hotels will organize package tours.
Besides Al-Jeraisy, Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Moajel, president of the tourism committee at RCCI; Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Magushi, assistant secretary-general for media affairs at the chamber, and other chamber officials were among those present.
The RCCI chief said the tourist festival would mark the start of a series of such events to be held annually during the vacation period.
“We have enough budget to ensure the success of the event,” he observed.
Dr. Al-Magushi said the festival will have three components — events organized by governmental organizations, those organized by the private sector and chamber-organized activities. The chamber has set up committees to work with recreation centers and shopping complexes to handle arrangements.
“We shall see how it works out,” said Dr. Al-Magushi. “In the light of our experience, we shall take steps to rectify the shortcomings, if any.”
The event is similar to the Dubai Shopping Festival in that there is no fixed venue. All participating shops and recreation centers will display giant banners offering 30 percent discounts to shoppers.
Five-star hotels also will organize package tours for domestic tourists, including a special three-day program for newlyweds at discount prices.
It is doubtful whether foreign tourists would come in, since the festival period coincides with the peak of summer. However, the chamber has set up a special venue off Exit 10 for expatriates visiting Riyadh.
The international festival will target that segment of the population with a variety of entertainment programs, including lectures on Saudi literature and other aspects of Saudi culture.
“This is just the starting point of the exercise. Hopefully, it will be extended later on to cover tourists from the Gulf states and the regions beyond,” Dr. Al-Magushi added.
