One out of five persons in the Gulf prefer to stay in their home countries for summer, provided entertainment is available, according to studies conducted by Abha Training Summer Festival organizers.
Abha Training Summer Festival, which is being held under the slogan "we meet for a higher aim" is organized by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) and Forsan Al Hayat at the Abha International Exhibitions Centre and Abha Palace Hotel in Aseer, KSA.
The festival is attracting Gulf tourists and not just KSA ones, in keeping with Aseer's efforts to be a destination for family tourism in the Gulf.
The 11-day 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.
HE Engineer 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.
He said: "We aim to make this festival an international one in the years to come. The festival will certainly boost domestic tourism in the kingdom leveraging the natural beauty of Abha."
Abha Summer Festival includes a diversity of activities and competitions covering mind games as well and personality contests.
Al Hunaini added: "We aim to enhance the position of Aseer as a tourism destination on the global front by enhancing such campaigns that attracts families."
Dr. Ali Sharab, Founder of Forsan Al Hayat, co-organizer of the festival, added: "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."
Abha Summer Festival is set to attract a large number of visitors from all the GCC countries and preparations are in full swing for the 11 day show.
Program moderators through out the festival are high-caliber people with international credentials.
