The Beekeepers Cooperative Society is organizing the eight-day Fourth International Honey Festival starting here Wednesday. The festival is being organized jointly with Abdullah Bogshan, Chair for Bee Research at King Saud University, and with the support of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities. “This festival has become a part of the Saudi beekeeping industry, thanks to all beekeeping enthusiasts who are always keen on participating in the festival activities,” said Dr. Ahmad Al-Khazim Al-Ghamdi, chairman of the society, and chairman of the event's organizing committee. “It is also an opportunity to boost tourism because it will be held during a good business time.” The event also aims to pinpoint beekeeping problems in the Kingdom and find ways to solve them, he added. Several important statistical studies on beekeeping industry will be conducted and beekeepers will be educated about the latest developments in the industry, Dr. Al-Ghamdi explained. Participants will also get a chance to meet and learn from academicians, he added. More than 100 domestic and foreign applications to participate in the gathering were received, but only 60 participants will be selected, with priority given to those inside the Kingdom, Dr. Al-Ghamdi said. Only those from other countries with professional bee tools and equipment will participate and no honey from outside the Gulf countries will be displayed, he added. Honey samples will be displayed to introduce beekeepers to the types of honey available outside the Kingdom and the methods used for honey packaging, Dr. Al-Ghamdi said. More than nine tons of honey will be displayed and the merchandise will be sold after it is properly tested, he added. During last year's event, some sellers sold honey worth SR100,000, Dr. Al
