Doha, August 15, 2011: Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) announced today that it will hold the Doha Park, the biggest entertainment event in Qatar lasting six weeks and encompassing a broad range of activities, in collaboration with the Economic Group. The announcement was made today at a press conference held at the Doha Exhibition Center, by Mr. Ahmed Abdullah Al Nuaimi, QTA Chairman, Mr. Lahdan Al Mohannadi, QTA Head of Local Exhibitions, and Mr. Abdulrahman Al Saleety, Chairman of Economic Group. As stated by the organizers, the festival will occupy 30,000 square meters at the new event area, near the Doha Exhibition Center, and will run for six weeks from October 6 to November 17, ending with Al-Adha celebrations. Al Nuaimi explained that the purpose of this festival is to provide a host of entertaining activities to both nationals and expatriates, and to tourists visiting Qatar, in order to encourage tourism from inside and outside Qatar. This will be achieved by offering well-organized and high quality activities that will help attract visitors and increase the number of tourists from neighbouring countries. A wide media marketing campaign will be launched through print, TV and radio in Qatar and neighboring Gulf countries in order to attract more visitors and tourists from the region, especially that the number of GCC tourists has increased nearly 40% and the number of international visitors surged in general more than 12% during the first half of 2011. The QTA Chairman stated that the Doha Park festival will offer world-class activities in the new 30,000 square meter open area, especially designed to host the QTA various events and festivals throughout the year. The festival will feature more than 100 entertaining events and attractions, including an amusement park, an international circus, theatrical plays, concerts, a 3D cinema, performances by folkloric bands depicting the heritage of Qatar and other Arabic countries, appearances by famous cartoon personalities, a play area for children under the age of 10, entertainment programs, a live theatre for children, and various fun athletic activities to suit tastes of all family members, Al Nuaimi added. There will be a separate area for shopping with many different stores, a children play area, bumper cars and rocket games areas, in addition to a special circus area for the European, Russian, Egyptian and Chinese circuses that will attract families from inside and outside Qatar and other Gulf countries. There will also be a video game area, a theatre, in addition to many competitions and draws on valuable prizes. Mr. Lahdan Al Mohannadi, Head of Local Exhibitions at the QTA said the Doha Park activities will take place in a 30,000 square meter new open area, near the Doha Exhibition Center. This is the area in which QTA recently invested and upgraded its infrastructure to be able to host all sorts of events, ensuring the highest safety standards and a joyful experience to all festival visitors. In order to give everybody the opportunity to enjoy more than 100 cultural and entertaining activities, QTA made the entry to the activity areas free of charge. Nominal fees will be paid when using electric and electronic games at the amusement park. This park will offer more than 35 big electric games to suit all ages, electronic, video and skill games, many surprises and various programs during the Eid days, Al Mohannadi added. To make the event fun for all attending families, the festival management dedicated a whole area to shopping and various services. More than 106 different stalls will be set up, in addition to restaurants, rest areas and cafes providing access for special needs visitors, and many competitions with great prizes for winners. The event will hold the first impressionist exhibition with more than 20 impressionist works of art, inspired by Eid Al Adha and reflecting an aspect of the Qatari identity, Al Mohannadi further explained. Mr. Abdulrahman Al Saleety, Chairman of Economic Group expressed his happiness over signing this contract with QTA, saying: “We are extremely proud that our company won the honor of executing this important and vital event, and was chosen over tens of other good offers submitted to organize this festival. We are also very humbled that QTA believed in us and by God's will we shall not disappoint them. We will mobilize all of our Company’s capabilities and resources, to offer the Qatari, Arabic and Khaliji public the best event.” About Qatar Tourism Authority Restructured under the Emiri Decree (46) in 2009, Qatar Tourism Authority was given the mandate to organize, enable, and supervise the tourism industry development and to organize exhibitions in Qatar, as well as represent and promote Qatar as a quality tourism destination for leisure, business, education, and sport. Qatar Tourism Authority gets actively involved in organizing events and promotions which positively reflect on the general image of Qatar as an evolving tourism destination combining business with leisure . Source : ILOVEQATAR TEAM

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