The second edition of the Qatar Games Festival has commenced at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in mid-July, titled "Adventures, Stories, and Games," and it continues until August 14. This event is part of Qatar Tourism’s summer event calendar. The new edition builds on the success of the first festival, which attracted around 75,000 visitors, according to official data. The "Visit Qatar" initiative has collaborated with Spacetoon, which has prepared a diverse program suitable for all family members of various ages.
Ola Kwiater, project manager at Spacetoon, described the festival as an exceptional event that includes a wide range of global brands that "touch children's passions." In a conversation with "Al-Araby Al-Jadeed," she noted that the festival features over 50 global brands, including "Barbie," "Cocomelon," "Miraculous," "Strawberry Shortcake," "Hot Wheels," "Trolls," "Blippi," "Mr. Bean," "Pikmin," and others.
The Qatar Games Festival takes place over an area of 17,000 square meters at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. The second edition consists of ten different sections, some of which are dedicated to anime, films, and theater. During the opening, Mayassa Salem, event coordinator at Qatar Tourism, stated that holding the second edition of the Qatar Games Festival confirms Qatar's status as a family-friendly tourist destination, in addition to having modern and advanced infrastructure, including world-class facilities covering 128 locations with a total area of 70,000 square meters.
She pointed out that the second edition of the festival lasts a full month and is characterized as the largest and best, as part of Qatar Tourism's plans to welcome six million visitors annually by 2030.
Anime World
The festival mixes entertainment with education, providing children the opportunity to meet their favorite game characters and famous influencers and interact with them. According to Ola Kwiater, the festival includes a variety of activities that cater to all age interests, making it an ideal destination for families and individuals. Family areas have been allocated in addition to special spaces for boys and girls, ensuring everyone has a good time.
Kwiater mentioned that the second edition of the festival includes a new section highlighting the world of anime, designed to give visitors a unique experience, as if they were inside episodes of famous cartoons like "Doraemon," "Beyblade," and "Nostalgia." Additionally, the festival features a cinema showcasing carefully selected films alongside theatrical performances that highlight prominent global brands, such as "Numberblocks," "Mr. Bean," and "Science Street."
Festival Atmosphere
The festival attracts many Qatari and resident families, as well as visitors from Qatar, especially from Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries. Citizen Khaled Al-Yafai, who brought his family, expressed his admiration for the diverse, inclusive, and enjoyable activities for both young and old, seeing it as comparable to regional festivals while noting that the prices are reasonable and accessible to everyone. Omani visitor Ahmed Batoo believed the festival is an opportunity for families in Doha who did not travel during the summer to have a good time with activities that suit everyone, praising the theatrical performances featured in the festival program.
Musical and dance activities are also part of the festival, with many artists and influential celebrities, including Rasha Rizk, Asem Sakr, Tarek Torkan, and Blippi, participating.
The festival is part of the "Your Summer Begins with Us" campaign launched by "Visit Qatar," the main arm of Qatar Tourism, which is responsible for marketing and promoting the tourism sector. This campaign, initiated in early July, highlights the tourist experiences and offers available in Qatar, from shopping in major malls to unique museums like the Museum of Islamic Art, the Arab Museum of Art, as well as enjoying Doha's beaches, archaeological sites, the cultural district (Katara), and the Old Doha Port.
Qatar achieved an unprecedented number of international visitors over the past five years, receiving nearly two million visitors during the first quarter of this year. Hamad International Airport also welcomed 25.9 million passengers in the first half of 2024, marking a 25% increase compared to the first half of 2023. It is notable that the tourism sector's contribution to Qatar's GDP ranges between 7% to 9%, and it is expected to rise to 12% by 2030.
