Saudi Gazette report
TAIF – The first edition of Taif Season, which came to a close on Saturday, enchanted more than 2.5 million visitors from within the Kingdom and abroad. The festival, titled “Arab Resort,” ended its month-long qualitative events and activities, receiving wide coverage in local, Arab and international media, and a superb and incredible interaction with over 35 million hits on social media and 300 million impressions in digital media.
The festival has been a resounding success in highlighting the status of Taif as one of the most important Arab tourist destinations with a plethora of meticulously planned and organized events and activities with the participation of 1,500 young Saudi men and women.
The Taif Season saw holding of more than 70 quality events, in four main regions: Souk Okaz; Rose Village in Al Rudaf Park; Crown Prince Camel Festival; and adventures titled “Sadat Al-Beeda” in Al-Hada and Al-Shifa. There were also several other events and activities such as shopping festival, colors marathon and excursions.
The Souk Okaz festival wore a whole new look this year, with a focus on highlighting the historical status and cultural depth of the city, through a range of creative and innovative events, such as Okaz Avenue, Knights of the Homeland, historical and heritage market, and the caravan path. The festival saw interactive theatrical performances with participation of more than 2,000 professional actors, wearing their traditional costumes, using their classical language and traditional mode of welcome. For the first time, Souk Okaz witnessed the “Arab Neighborhood,” which included pavilions of 11 Arab countries with showcasing cultures, arts and commercial products and handicrafts from each country.
The Rose Village, which was held in the famous Al-Rudaf Park, focused on the abundance of natural products in Taif, the most famous of which was the “Taif Rose”, which has gained international fame. A series of creative quality events, which blended bright colors with the most beautiful dances and musical tunes were held in the village. It highlighted the historic role of Taif for its rich heritage and strategic location on the old Incense Road, traveled by merchants carrying spices and luxury goods from remote regions. The village also hosted a series of events that introduced visitors to the types of flowers, methods of preparation and perfume industry and diverse products, and the provision of food and beverages flavored with roses.
The Crown Prince Camel Festival has continued to shine globally for the second year in a row, and it was held this year, under the umbrella of the Taif Season, for the first time. The festival witnessed the participation of a record number of 10,000 camels with the volume of prize money exceeded SR50 million. A number of innovative events were held at King Faisal Park as part of the festival.
Sadat Al-Beeda in Al-Hada and Al-Shifa mountains gave incredible moments for lovers of adventure with a number of diverse sports and recreational activities. The “Adrenaline Event” enabled the visitors from living new experiments such as free jumping, parachuting and mountain jogging and trekking, in addition to visiting important landmarks in Taif, such as the Shubra Castle that houses the regional Taif Museum, which is one of the most stunning vestige in the tourist city, and circus shows.
The Taif Season provided about 15,000 seasonal jobs, investment opportunities for entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises, and supportive to productive families, artisans and micro entrepreneurs by giving appropriate platforms. In addition, it provided training to more than 1,500 young Saudi men and women in the hospitality sector with offering qualitative services as well as proficiency in taking up jobs in the industry.
