In its first weekend, the SEC saw more than 14,000 residents and visitors enjoying its various entertainment offerings and sports activities, exceeding the expected 8,000-10,000 festival-goers.
Performances and activities during the final day at the SEC also continued to draw spectators in large numbers, spending the Eid al-Adha holidays with their families and friends.
The SEC, organised by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and QSports, featured more than 87 games across 11 categories, in addition to a diverse range of stage shows and sports activities.
“We are very pleased to have our longest ever edition of QSF mark the end of a year of successful nation-wide events in 2017,” QTA’s public relations and communications director Saif al-Kuwari said in a statement.
He lauded the close collaboration of their public and private partners in creating what he described as a vibrant calendar of annual events.
According to al-Kuwari, QTA has been particularly keen to engage and involve local businesses and entrepreneurs in its festivals.
“We will continue to seek their input as we work to develop the sector and host even more tourism events in the future,” he added.
Roaming parades entertain the SEC visitors
A traditional Ardha show at the QSF closing ceremony
QSF, the country’s longest running festival, kicked off on June 25, coinciding with Eid al-Fitr and continued throughout the Eid al-Adha holidays until September 5.
The festival provided Qatar residents and visitors an array of entertainment, hospitality, and retail offerings in various locations, further boosting tourism’s contribution to the national economy.
The mega raffle draw, one of the QSF 2017 highlights, generated more than 305,000 vouchers from participating malls across Qatar, which translated to over QR61mn in retail spending.
The draw on September 5 saw nine winners of cash prizes (total of QR300,000) and a lucky shopper taking home a brand new 2017 Bentley.
QTA noted that the first edition of the month-long Shop Qatar, held in the beginning of the year, also saw a lucky shopper winning QR1mn in cash.
As part of energising the retail sector, QSF also featured the ‘Heya – The Summer Edition,’ the mall-based version of Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition, at the Mall of Qatar from August 30 to September 5.
Fashion enthusiasts and shoppers had the chance to see the works of Qatari designers who offer a wide range of abayas, kaftans, jalabiyas, haute couture gowns and other accessories.
