MORE than $2 million (BD756,000) has been spent to book acts and organise activities for the Bahrain Festival 2004, being held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad from August 5 to September 4.
The event, sponsored by the private sector, in co-operation with the Information Ministry, is expected to draw more than a million visitors.
A media campaign highlighting the festival’s activities has been launched in all parts of Bahrain and GCC states. Director general Ghazwan Al Masri said more than 2,000 billboards will be put up in all of the country's governorates and media campaigns will be launched in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Oman.
Al Masri said entry fees to the festival will be minimal to attract the largest number of people. “All tickets will be sold for 500 fils and will be entered in a daily raffle with cars and other gifts on offer,” he said.
Hotels and airlines involved in the project, said Al Masri, will offer attractive offers for visitors to Bahrain, who will attend the festival. He said the festival organising committee also booked two new acts that were not announced before -- air acrobats and bicycle stunt shows.
“All activities featured in the festival from Europe and the region have been booked at a cost of more than $2 million,” he pointed out. A concert featuring popular Arab singers will also be held as part of the festival. “We have already booked Wade'e Al Safi, Raghib Alama, Wa'el Kafoori, Fadhl Shakir and Bassim Afghani,” Al Masri added.
Festival activities will be held at various locations, including the Bahrain National Museum, Bahrain International Exhibition Centre and a number of leading hotels.