The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) and Forsan Al Hayat Training Services have opened a summer entertainment festival in Abha.

The 11-day Abha Training Summer Festival is being held under the slogan “We meet for a higher aim” at the Abha International Exhibitions Centre and Abha Palace Hotel in Aseer.

The festival is attracting Gulf tourists in keeping with Aseer’s efforts to be a destination for family tourism in the Gulf, a statement said.

The festival will entertain visitors with diversified, multicultural and entertainment and education programs tailored to the needs of the social classes in the Gulf. Programmes are being designed by tourism, training and entertainment experts from the region and the globe.

Abdul Karim Bin Salem Al Hunainy, Undersecretary of Aseer, said the festival was a translation of the kingdom’s vision to invest in edutainment through well-rounded and specifically tailored tourism programmes that adhere to the Arab culture and customs.

“We aim to make this festival an international one in the years to come,” Al Hunainy said. “The festival will certainly boost domestic tourism in the kingdom leveraging the natural beauty of Abha.”

“We aim to enhance the position of Aseer as a tourism destination on the global front by enhancing such campaigns that attracts families,” Al Hunainy added.

Abha Summer Festival includes a diversity of activities and competitions covering   mind games as well and personality contests.

Dr Ali Sharab, founder of Forsan Al Hayat, said: “This festival is quality-driven and all activities were meticulously planned.”

“Apart from affordable entertainment programs, people in the Gulf want activities that adhere to their cultural values, while retaining modern elements, in an effort to motivate them to spend the summer in the Gulf, instead of going abroad. This is where Abha Festival fits in,” Dr Sharab concluded. – TradeArabia News Service