TAIF – The 11th Taif Rose Festival, slated to be launched Thursday at King Faisal Model Park, hopes to provide a two-pronged message to the people. Not only will it be a platform to project roses in its beautiful light, it will also hope to increase awareness about vegetation and how to protect it. The festival is to be launched under the aegis of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, and in the presence of Prince Sultan Bin Salman, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). Taif Municipality is scheduled to participate in the festival that will have a huge carpet of flowers of different shapes and colors. Taif Mayor Muhammad Abdulrahman Al-Mukhrij said the carpet has been supported with 100,000 seedlings of different flowers. The municipality will distribute agricultural seedlings and awareness leaflets to the visitors of the festival. The aim is to increase awareness and contribute to protecting the vegetation cover. He said the festival will acquaint the public on the distinctive agricultural product — roses that Taif is famous for. It will also open the way for more job opportunities and attract more tourists to Taif. Taif Municipality said that seven types of plants were used in carrying out the flowers carpet. Flowers of 12 colors were used in the carpet. – SPA
