Qatar Summer Festival (QSF) will run for more than twice its usual length in the upcoming fourth edition, according to a recent announcement made by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). To be held under the theme Colour Your Summer, QSF is a nationwide festival that celebrates the country’s family entertainment, retail and hospitality offerings.

In a significant expansion, this year’s QSF will stretch beyond the usual month-long period, to run from Eid Al Fitr until Eid Al Adha. The Festival’s shopping promotions will begin a few days earlier, allowing shoppers to enjoy exciting discounts and offers during the last three days of Ramadan, in preparation for Eid Al Fitr.

Mashal Shahbik, Director of Festivals and Tourism Events at QTA said that Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha during the summer months this year created the perfect opportunity to merge the Eid Celebrations and Qatar Summer Festival into a continuous, two-month long festival. In addition to having a longer QSF, tourists will also have more to choose from in terms of entertainment, shopping discounts and hotel offers.

QSF is delivered by members of the private sector, with QTA’s guidance and support. Malls, hotels and destination management companies will provide entertainment events and special packages, while the QSF centerpiece and family-favourite, the Summer Entertainment City, will be delivered by local events management company, QSports.

Shahbik added that they are delighted that the private sector is participating actively in this Festival, especially after their involvement in Shop Qatar and the 8th Qatar International Food Festival, which are both resounding successes earlier this year. Their active participation in delivering QSF, according to Shahbik, will ensure that QSF remains competitive, and more reflective of the market’s needs.

Looking ahead, we are excited to leverage the growing popularity of festivals to engage with more private sector partners in tourism events across Qatar, particularly in light of the Prime Minister’s directive to review the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy in partnership with the private sector.’

Ahmad Abu Nahia, Head of Public Relations at Qatar Chamber said they do not hesitate in their support of festivals and activities, which he said is necessary for the tourism sector to prosper. He said that the Chamber will enhance its strategic partnership with Qatar Tourism Authority, to support and develop the industry, in addition to directing the Qatari private sector to enhance its investment in the sector. He added that the partnership has led to an increasing number of tourists visiting Qatar, which hosted close to 3 million tourists last year, half of whom were from the Gulf countries.

Qatar Summer Festival 2017 is now an important economic activity, aligned with the development strategy. It represents a partnership between the public and private sectors, and it is especially important as it coincides with the off-peak tourist season. It will encourage internal tourism and attract tourists to Qatar, especially from the neighbouring Gulf countries, where people believe that Qatar is a destination for family tourism in the region.’

Ghanim Al Mohannadi, Deputy Chairman of QSports said that they are proud to bring Qatar the ‘world’s largest obstacle course, largest trampoline park, an exceptional food court, live entertainment, and 30 amusement park rides’.

There will be more than 100 activities for the whole family at the Summer Entertainment City from 26 June to 5 September. It will have something for everyone, including entertainment, sports, food and fun on a level never before seen in Qatar.’

Special Travel, Accommodation and Retail Offers

Over half of Qatar’s hotel establishments have partnered with QSF to ensure a warm welcome to visitors during the Festival’s 2017 edition, representing a 35% increase from last year. Hotel partners are offering special packages, which include offers to pay for two nights and stay for three in hotels, and pay for five nights and stay for six in hotel apartments.

Select establishments will provide additional incentives covering a variety of options, including free transfers to and from Hamad International Airport, free breakfasts, late check-outs, free meals for children when accompanied by parents (maximum of three children per family), free return trips to cultural and retail landmarks.

And to offer tourists the chance to conveniently travel, stay and shop in Qatar, QTA has partnered with Discover Qatar to offer discounted travel packages. Visitors to Qatar during the festival can take advantage of a range of accommodation offers at Qatar’s globally-recognised hospitality sector, when booking through WeGo.

In addition, Qatar Airways transit passengers can also take advantage of +Qatar, a unique stopover package designed to give visitors the opportunity to discover Doha with free luxury hotel stays and complimentary transit visas. Launched earlier this month, the campaign continues throughout the summer season.

The Festival is set to kick off with attractive shopping discounts that reach up to 50%. In addition, shoppers who spend QAR200 at any of the participating retail outlets throughout the festival can enter the QSF mega-raffle draw for a chance to cash prizes and a super luxury car on 5 September.

Qatar Events Calendar

QTA also announced the launch of Qatar Events Calendar, an online guide for all tourism events taking place in Qatar. The Calendar will be available in Arabic, English, German, Italian, French and Turkish, providing visitors from around the world with details on how to plan their trips to Qatar. Visitors and residents wishing to stay up to date with key events in Qatar, can also follow the Qatar Events Calendar’s dedicated social media accounts on social media.

Visit their website for more information about Qatar Summer Festival.