First-ever Taif season a remarkable success

The inaugural Taif Season concluded at the end of August, having attracted more than 2.5 million visitors throughout the month. The season, which was extensively reported on by local and Arab media and attracted remarkable attention on social media, was praised for the range and quality of events, and for achieving its goal of highlighting Taif’s position as one of the most important Arab tourist destinations.

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.”

Each country, led by Saudi Arabia, was represented with a pavilion that embodied its native civilisation, culture, arts and produce. The quarter also hosted the main Okaz theater, which featured regular performances from stars from across the Arab world.

Taif Season has had a positive impact on the local community, providing 15,000 seasonal jobs, creating investment opportunities for entrepreneurs, small-and-mediums sized businesses, and developing platforms to support productive families, artisans and micro-business owners. In addition, more than 1,500 young men and women have benefited from a series of nine training courses designed to raise service levels and enrich the visitor experience.