Riyadh Season Visitors Hit 5Mln Within First Five Weeks

 Riyadh Season 2022 is distinguished by its inclusion of 15 diverse recreational zones (Saudi Entertainment Authority)
Riyadh Season 2022 is distinguished by its inclusion of 15 diverse recreational zones (Saudi Entertainment Authority)
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Riyadh Season Visitors Hit 5Mln Within First Five Weeks

 Riyadh Season 2022 is distinguished by its inclusion of 15 diverse recreational zones (Saudi Entertainment Authority)
Riyadh Season 2022 is distinguished by its inclusion of 15 diverse recreational zones (Saudi Entertainment Authority)

The number of visitors at the Riyadh Season 2022 has hit about five million within 5 weeks since the event’s launch on October 21. Under the slogan “Beyond Imagination,” the festival offers entertainment areas, various activities and exceptional experiences that have succeeded in attracting visitors from inside and outside Saudi Arabia.

Combining originality and modernity, Riyadh Season 2022 provides visitors with many options and a chance to learn about the world’s civilizations at its “Boulevard World” zone.

Moreover, the event opens a window into ancient Saudi history for festival goers at the “Zaman Village” zone.

Riyadh Season 2022 still brings its visitors many surprises, entertainment offers, distinctive activities, and various experiences that meet the desires of visitors of different interests and age groups. These events deepen the sense of quality of life in Saudi Arabia and allow visitors to enjoy the winter weather.

The season is showcasing the largest events such as the Ferrari Festival, the Fan Festival accompanying the World Cup activities, Anime Town, Boulevard Eve, the Black Hat event, and the Festival of Cultures in Al-Suwaidi Park.

Also, the season features 15 diverse recreational areas, including the largest artificial lake in the world, cable car transportation, cloud-embracing lounges, in addition to the international Cirque du Soleil.

The season presents sporting events as well, such as WWE and the Riyadh Season Cup, which brings together the Paris Saint-Germain F.C. with the stars of Al-Hilal and Al-Nasr clubs.

The skies will light up with fireworks for 65 days. The season will also offer a large group of Saudi and Arab plays, several concerts, and local and international exhibitions in the fields of anime and perfumes.



Nepal Hosts Hot Air Balloon Festival

Hot air balloons rise in sky during the international festival at Pokhara in Nepal on December 25, 2024. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
Hot air balloons rise in sky during the international festival at Pokhara in Nepal on December 25, 2024. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
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Nepal Hosts Hot Air Balloon Festival

Hot air balloons rise in sky during the international festival at Pokhara in Nepal on December 25, 2024. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)
Hot air balloons rise in sky during the international festival at Pokhara in Nepal on December 25, 2024. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP)

With Nepal's snowy Himalayan peaks as a backdrop, the sky above Pokhara transformed into a vibrant canvas of colors for the country's first hot-air balloon festival.

Tourism is a major earner for Nepal, which saw over a million foreign visitors this year after a post-pandemic bounceback, and investments are being made in hotels and airports to cater to travelers.

"We felt that we must bring a balloon festival like this to Nepal," Sabin Maharjan, an organizer of the event, told AFP.

Hot-air balloons from more than 10 countries participated in the festival.

"A ride here can be very exciting as you can see mountains, hills and lakes," Maharjan added.

"All passengers tell us that they are very happy -- such a festival will boost our tourism."

The balloons created a mesmerizing display against a stunning sight of the snow-capped Annapurna range.

"It is spectacular," American balloon pilot Derek Hamcock, 67, said.

"As soon as you go above the small range here you see all the Himalayas. Unbelievable, every time you see them it is unbelievable."

Balloons shaped as a rat and a frog from were among those joining in the fun, slowly drifting with the breeze.

"You never know where you are going," said Diego Criado del Rey, 29, a balloon pilot from Spain.

"So it is pretty much you and the nature -- not fighting, but being together. You go where the nature tells you."

Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority issued a notice for the skies over Pokhara for a duration of nine days to allow balloon flights.

Although more than two centuries have passed since France's Montgolfier brothers made the first manned flight, ballooning can still capture the imagination.