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| Shoppers at the fair on the last day yesterday |
The 10-day fair, organised by the Qatar Tourism Authority in collaboration with q.media events, recorded an increase of around 15% from last year’s fair.
According to the organisers, the new division of the stalls and booths (arranging them by products), has helped increase competition among the exhibitors, who were made to lower their prices to the benefit of visitors.
“This year’s fair was a successful event and a pleasurable experience to both visitors and exhibitors. Every year, we try our best to come up with a new and enhanced edition of the fair to please visitors, and I think we have succeeded in doing so. As organisers, we always try to make sure that we listen to both the visitors’ and exhibitors’ needs and their feedback, which we implement because we believe that this will help moving the event upscale,” said Sheikh Sultan bin Fahed al-Thani, events manager at q.media.
“We have received very positive feedback from agents, exhibitors and visitors for the second year in a row. Many exhibitors have already confirmed their participation in next year’s DTF, as well as many business organisations from Cyprus and Czech Republic have shown interest in participating in the next edition of the DTF,” he added.
Over 570 world-renowned exhibitors from 29 countries have participated in DTF, showcasing and selling a wide array of unique, exclusive and traditional products, ranging from silverware, handcraft, furniture, crystals to abayas and clothing.
“I am very happy with the overall outcome of the exhibition. The exhibition was a great opportunity to showcase our products in a professionally-managed and nicely-decorated exhibition, this help us present our products in a more attractive way. Visitors of the DTF 2012 have appreciated our products and prices, so we are definitely coming back next year,” said the owner of ‘Butterfly’, a Tunisian shop which sells arts and crafts items.
These views were echoed by many of the first-time and returning exhibitors, who expressed their excitement about next year’s DTF and have already confirmed their participation and commitment to next year’s edition.
“The exhibition was a massive success. The management has done a great job this year. Visitors loved our products and have shown great interest in them. Our booth is almost empty and we are really looking forward to next year’s exhibition,” Joan, a representative of a Kenyan shop Country Krafts, said.
The DTF 2012 was sponsored by Seqlia, Al-Mutakamelah Tents, Batteel and Al Shohob Company.
