عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Varieties

‘Saudi Winter’ Features 1,000 Events for Unforgettable Experiences

Riyadh hosts the world’s largest winter entertainment events (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Riyadh hosts the world’s largest winter entertainment events (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

‘Saudi Winter’ Features 1,000 Events for Unforgettable Experiences

Riyadh hosts the world’s largest winter entertainment events (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Riyadh hosts the world’s largest winter entertainment events (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) launched the “Saudi Winter” events calendar on Saturday, highlighting seven key destinations across the kingdom.

Visitors from around the world can enjoy over 1,000 experiences and events, along with more than 500 special offers.

The Saudi Winter calendar includes events and activities scheduled to take place in 7 destinations: Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, the Red Sea, the Eastern Province, Madinah, and Hail.

The events will run from October 2024 until the end of the first quarter of 2025.

Moreover, the Winter calendar includes several outstanding events and seasons, such as Riyadh Season, Diriyah Season, AlUla Season, Madinah Season, and the Jeddah Calendar.

Additionally, it features special experiences such as the Dakar Rally, MDL Beast, Saudi Cruise, and the Islamic Arts Biennale. It also includes hiking trails, camps and caravans in winter destinations.

The Visit Saudi platform provides more details on the Saudi Winter Program 2024-2025, special offers, promotions and packages. The first phase of the program involves more than 50 offers in collaboration with private sector partners.

Recently, the Minister of Tourism and the STA’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, announced the launch of the Program, during a workshop with tourism stakeholders to discuss the recent achievements, goals and challenges.

“With the unwavering support of the Kingdom’s leadership to the tourism sector, and with the efforts of the tourism sector and private sector partners, we launch the Saudi Winter calendar, as part of the Saudi Winter Program,” he said.

“This raises our hopes and aspirations to achieve new remarkable milestones, underscoring our efforts to attract more tourists through the ongoing campaigns that target local and international markets,” added Al-Khateeb.

On this occasion, the CEO of the STA, Fahd Hamidaddin, emphasized the progress of Saudi tourism, highlighting the recent accomplishments and record-breaking figures.

He also invited tourists from around the world to enjoy the Saudi Winter program, which has tripled the number of events and activities compared to last year, and offers unprecedented packages and offers that suit various categories of tourists.

Most Viewed

 
 
Varieties

Japanese Artist Finds Solace, Global Fans with Intricate Leaf-cutting

Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
TT
TT

Japanese Artist Finds Solace, Global Fans with Intricate Leaf-cutting

Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

A frog holding a taro-leaf umbrella. A parade of frolicking animals. An Ukiyo-e style Mount Fuji. Giant waves. A Japanese artist who goes by the name Lito carves these delicate designs on fallen leaves, giving life back to them.
The world of Lito’s delicate art, which he began in 2020 and posts on social media almost daily, has won fans from around the world. The leaf art has also given him solace after earlier struggles with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and a purpose in life — the joy of making people happy with his art, The Associated Press reported.
He enjoys working at night. From a pile of leaves treated with a wrinkle-free chemical, he picks one and places it on a cutting board.
First, he outlines the design on the leaf with a pen in his right hand. Then he takes a design knife in his left hand and starts cutting the leaf carefully. Slowly, the leaf begins to take the shape of a frog carrying an umbrella — a simple design he demonstrated in a recent interview with AP.

More complex, highly intensive work on a single leaf can take more than eight hours to complete.
His leaf-cutting works include titles such as “Scrolls of Frolicking Animals,” “Leaf Aquarium,” and “Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji: The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” Each piece includes his own twists, and often uses animals.
“I would rather finish it in one go when I am focused,” Lito, 38, said. He didn't want to disclose his real name for personal reasons.
Since his childhood, Lito says he has had high levels of concentration and patience. But he had trouble fitting into what was considered the norm at school or at work, despite all his efforts. He struggled to interpret others' feelings and to avoid confrontations.
After years of difficulty, he went to a hospital at age 30 and was told he has ADHD, a diagnosis that he felt explained why he has always done things differently.
He saw no point in forcing himself to do things the same way as other people, and began to adjust his life.
In early 2020, Lito came across the art of leaf cutting. He saw it as the perfect use of his patience and concentration.
Word of his skills has spread across social media, and he has published books on his leaf-cutting work. He holds a near monthly solo exhibition in various places in Japan.
“If I can make people happy by doing what I am doing, I want to do more. That’s my driving force for what's next,” Lito says.