Tourism Breaking News
The inaugural Taif Season concluded at the end of August, having attracted more than 2.5 million visitors throughout the month. The season featured more than 70 major events, held in four key areas — Souk Okaz, the Crown Prince’s Camel Festival, the Village of Roses, and the Al-Baid Masters section, which featured mountain hiking. The season also featured numerous other events, including a shopping festival, a ‘marathon of colours’ and many more.
The events reflected different elements of the city of Taif, with the Souk Okaz being presented with a completely new look this year – aiming to highlight the historical status and cultural depth of Taif, through a range of innovative and creative events. These included Okaz Avenue, a historical market, Knights of Okaz, traditional camel caravans, and the Okaz Boys’ section. The market witnessed a series of interactive theatrical performances, featuring more than 2,000 actors in a variety of traditional costumes. This year, the market also highlighted Taif’s position as an Arab tourism resort, with the participation of 11 Arab countries for the first time in the ‘Arab Quarter.’
The Village of Roses, located in Taif’s famous Al-Radf Park, focused on the region’s abundant natural produce, especially the Taif rose, which is famous around the world. The park also hosted the Adrenaline Games, circus events, and fireworks displays.
The Crown Prince’s Camel Festival held under the Taif Season umbrella for the first time featured more than 10,000 animals, and total prize money exceeded 50 million riyals. The Al-Baid Masters events focused on treks in the nearby Al-Hada and Al-Shafa mountains, with a range of supporting activities and contests.
