A MAJOR retailer has urged the Qatar Tourism and Exhibitions Authority to hold longer festivals and at least twice a year.
Ramesh Bulchandani, the Dubai-based general manager of LTC International Qatar, said the Doha Summer Festival was an amazing success and “brought something different to this country”.
“Actually, Dubai has come to Qatar”, said Bulchandani, whose company runs such famous retail outlets as HomesRus, Bossini, Mr Price and Daiso, at the Hyatt Plaza.
Since the festival began on July 15, Doha had been different. There was a reason for people to stay in Qatar. “We got good support from QTEA and we too supported it wholeheartedly”, the official said.
Considering the success of the festival, Bulchandani requested QTEA to have longer summer festivals and to organise a spring fair too in February. He also suggested creating more hype about the events outside the country so that people from other countries also visit Qatar during these events.
This was a good festival and if there were more of this people would invest more, he said.
Hyatt Plaza general manager Feroz Moideen said the festival had been a superb success for the mall since the number of visitors increased from 305,000 in July 2007 to 600,000 last month, when the festival was on.
“When we do something we do it properly. Otherwise, we don’t do it”, he said, referring to the fabulous raffle prizes the mall had offered during the fiesta, and the near total participation of the mall outlets in the festival.
Exclusively for the mall shoppers, on offer were three Infiniti luxury cars, three bedroom sets and three treasure boxes. The last of the three draws was held on Monday night.
Half in jest, Bulchandani and Moideen said the QTEA should entrust Hyatt Plaza to conduct the next festival.
Salman al-Hammadi, vice-chief of the summer festival organising committee, thanked LTC International and Hyatt Plaza for their support and sponsors of prizes like HomesRus and Paris Gallery.
GT
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