Spring Festival wows Riyadh visitors

The Riyadh Spring Festival (RSF) that kicked off Thursday at King Abdullah Malaz Park for the first time has charmed visitors with its colorful flower show and the latest landscaping arts on display.
The 10-day festival is being organized by the Riyadh Municipality during the mid-semester break of Saudi schools Kingdom-wide. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) and its partners have lined up major festivals in various regions for promoting domestic tourism during the period.
A large group of Saudis and expats took pictures to capture the spectacular show of a flowery landscape. The festival also features a mini zoo, where Arabian animals and birds are on display. There is also provision for electronic games lovers to show off their skills on screens.
The festival includes a giant carpet with more than 660,000 types of natural flowers, a special house with different types of plants and flower arrangements in addition to a photography competition for the best shot of a flower.
The festival revolves around flowers and ornamental plants, design, landscaping and architecture with the participation of a number of agencies and companies specialized in gardens to display flowers and ornamental plants.
The festival is open to families every day from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Green spaces are available for picnickers amid an artificial water fountain and laser show.
Filipinos, Indians and many Arab expats from Egypt and Jordan were among the first visitors on Thursday. A group of Filipino nurses were amazed to see the beautiful display of flowers in Saudi Arabia. “I am astonished to see this giant display of fresh flowers here,” Maria Santos told Arab News while taking photos on her cell phone.
Another Filipino nurse, Corazon Albert, said that she had never seen this kind of festival in her life. “Unlike in our country, I know how difficult it is to have these hundreds of different types of flowers planted here. It is really amazing. We are happy that our hospital brought us here today. We really enjoyed the show,” she added.
In its statement, the SCTA said the commission has drawn up various programs to encourage local tourists to visit these festivals and make use of their break.
According to the organizing committee, the SCTA in collaboration with its tourism partners has completed the itinerary for these festivals. The attractions range from cultural and social diversity to sports and recreational activities across all segments of the society.
The SCTA works through its branch offices to support the efforts of the boards of tourism development and other partners to organize such festivals and events which contribute to domestic tourism. They will be in addition to organizing information programs to stimulate interest in visiting tourist sites in different regions.
According to the SCTA, such festivals play an important role in the formation of tourist destinations and increase demand for tourist destinations, facilities and highlighting the tourism potential in the region and its role in promoting domestic spots during which citizens would learn more about the country’s wealth, natural and cultural heritage.
They also facilitate direct communication with people in other regions that would eventually contribute to social development through family bonding.
The activities will also guide young people to spend their spare time in useful activities in safe and enjoyable places that will motivate entrepreneurs to invest in the establishments in these regions, which are rich in economic and tourism potential.
The SCTA will organize a spring festival at King Abdullah Malaz Park in Riyadh, feature flower shows at the King Fahd Central Park in Madinah, while the Eastern Region will be organizing the Second East Coast festival on the waterfront in Dammam. It will coincide with the Sixth National Science and Technology Center festival in Alkhobar.