Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, inaugurates the fifth edition of Souq Okaz Festival in Taif, Tuesday. — SPAKhaled: Islamic Hospitality Culture project to be launched next year TAIF — Fanfare, pomp and gaiety marked the opening of the fifth edition of the eight-day Souq Okaz Festival here, Tuesday. After inaugurating the festival on behalf of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the festival, toured different pavilions displaying heritage and culture of the Kingdom. Those who welcomed Prince Khaled at the venue included Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad, Minister of Education, Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Chairman of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, and a number of senior officials. In his speech, Prince Sultan commended the role of the Kingdom in fostering and preserving heritage and culture. “The Kingdom is the country of civilization, history and humanity. And Souq Okaz focuses on these values,” Prince Sultan said. Earlier in the day, Prince Khaled announced that Islamic Hospitality Culture project would be launched in the region next year. Addressing the guests of Souq Okaz, Prince Khaled said the Makkah Mayoralty is studying the implementation of the project, which focuses on improving services to pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors to the Makkah region. The guests included poets, writers, critics, media reporters, plastic artists and photographers from the Kingdom and other Arab countries. Other projects that will be implemented this year in Makkah and Jeddah, the Emir said, will make the two cities among the best in providing excellent services, which manifests the concept of the Islamic Hospitality Culture. “From an Islamic perspective, we, Makkah people, were the first ones to provide tourist services around the world; therefore, we should be the pioneers of this industry,” Prince Khaled said. “The Kingdom in general and Makkah region in particular should provide special tourist services.” Public and private establishments will implement the program and present it from the perspective of Makkan people, Prince Khaled explained. “This is a great honor for us that entails great responsibility as well,” he said. “We are responsible for providing all comfort to the Guests of Allah, who are considered the main customers of Makkah markets. Therefore, we, the pioneers of tourism industry, should provide pilgrims and Umrah performers with top-notch services,” the Emir said.
