Like many firsts introduced for the 25th National Festival for Heritage and Culture opened last week at Janadriya Village, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) announced the launch of transport facility for family-only visitors starting Wednesday. The festival will be open for family-only visitors between 10 A.M. and 5.30 P.M. from March 24 to 31 at Janadriya Village, some 43 km from Riyadh. The bus service launched in cooperation with a private tour operator will leave Riyadh from Ghornatah Shopping Mall at 4.30 P.M. and return at 8.30 P.M. Iman Solaiman, Coordinator of the bus service, said reservation for seats for a 45-seater bus will be on first- come-first-serve basis. “Only one bus will leave on a daily basis on nominal charges. Only families are allowed to board the bus,” he said. He said a Saudi tour guide will also accompany the visitors and brief them during the four-hour trip to Janadriya Village that houses regional replicas of historical and cultural significance to Saudi Arabia. He said his office started to receive several enquiries from foreign diplomatic missions in Riyadh about guided tours to the Janadriya Village and based on the demand the SCTA took the decision for transport service. “We decided to launch the bus service for those family visitors that have keen interest to visit the Janadriya festival. The annual event has become a major tourist attraction in the region, as it highlights some of the most exquisite sections of arts and crafts of Saudi society,” he said. The event that started with camel race has also showcased traditional dance, folklore activities and live demonstration of art and craft by Saudi artists housed in a special pavilion. This year the authorities have also built a parking area for 100,000 vehicles for an easy and hassle-free access to the festival site. Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, SCTA President, has praised the role of National Festival of Heritage and Culture saying that it will preserve national heritage and handicraft. The event has achieved a prominent place as part of the series of cultural activities in the Kingdom, he said. Prince Sultan said the festival is an attempt to integrate the national cultural and tourism message that it deserves under the supervision of the National Guard as well as evidenced from participation of the government authorities in its events. Prince Mite'b Bin Abdullah, National Guard Vice President for Executive Affairs and Deputy Chair for Janadriya's Higher Committee, has earlier announced the launch of two prestigious prizes, one each for culture and heritage named after King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. King Abdullah Prize for Culture and King Abdullah Prize for Heritage will be awarded to the winners every year starting from 26th Janadriya Festival in 2011. “The two prizes will carry a cash award of SR1 million to each winner,” he said.
