“Unforgettable” is the word that the Supreme Commission of Tourism (SCT) has been striving to label this year's domestic tourism through its recently announced package of summer festivals and activities across the Kingdom. As the country is slowly transforming into a tourist attraction, around 25 major summer festivals will be launched across the Kingdom with the beginning of the 2008 summer break today. The Kingdom's summer festivals are sponsored and organized by various departments including the regions' Emirates, municipalities, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and tourism development authorities. “The year 2008 is bringing a spectacle of events to the Kingdom as we are trying to have a unique quality of festivals this year with a lot of efforts put into that. The mistakes committed in the past will not be repeated as the SCT seeks a total positive summer experience for tourists in the Kingdom,” said Dr. Abdullah Bin Salman Al-Juhani, deputy of secretary general of SCT for media and marketing. “Nobody is left behind this year. We've planned more new activities and programs for different age groups to draw more locals,” Juhani added. Shouldering the responsibility of coordinating among different government and private agencies, the SCT has launched campaigns for summer entertainment and adventurous activities in Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Najran, Taif, Tabuk, Hail, Jizan and many other cities, Juhani said. “If history is your thing, then these cities are thriving with cultural aspects,” he added. Phase one of the promotion campaign called “Saudi Arabia Joy Summer 08” was launched on April 26. “We want families to enjoy their summer vacation inside Saudi Arabia for which we've launched the campaign so early,” Dr. Fahd Al-Garbooa, deputy assistant of secretary general for marketing at SCT said. The promotion started right after the spring break to help families to have an idea of local tourism so they would start arranging their trips before getting busy with final exams, he said. Each city has its own way in celebrating the summer break with festivals inspired by the city's tradition and culture. In addition to “Riyadh Shopping Festival 2008” organized by the city's Chamber of Commerce and Industry where prices are slashed to half, the city will hold entertainment activities at its shopping malls and public parks, Garbooa said. With a major inflow of 3 million tourists, diverse and energetic Jeddah will continue with its annual ‘Jeddah is Different' or ‘Jeddah Ghair' for 45 days, he said. A big chunk of tourists to Jeddah come to perform Umrah as the city serves as a gateway to Makkah and Madinah. Taif will also have its annual festival “Taif Is More Beautiful” or ‘Taif Ahla' at King Fahd Sports City in Hawiyah. Further south, the beautiful city of Abha will launch its 10th annual festival dubbed “Abha Tourism” under the patronage of Prince Faisal Bin Khaled, Emir of Asir. Tourists are said to expect some pleasant surprises. In the Eastern Province, Ahsa will hold its 3rd annual summer festival with theater shows and poetry reciting. Other summer festivals are also planned in Qassim, Buraidah, Onaizah and Hail. __
