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The Doha Trade Fair 2012 draws large number of visitors

Visitors: "The exhibition is a must-visit shopping destination"
Doha, Qatar - Thousands of visitors and shopping -lovers, line up in queues every day at the Doha Exhibitions Center's entrance hall, waiting for the main doors of the Doha Trade Fair 2012 (DTF 2012) to open, eager to check out and get their hands on the latest in fashion, gadgets and accessories.

The ten-day exhibition, which opened on Sunday January 1, has attracted over 120,000 visitors in its first six days.

DTF 2012, which is recognized as one of the prime trade shows in the region, features more than 560 international exhibitors, showcasing and selling the widest possible range of the most exclusive and traditional products from countries across the globe.

"I am always on the hunt for arts and crafts items, and this is a great place to shop for hand-made accessories. I am very pleased with this year's show, as there are more options and variety on display," said Anu V. a DTF visitor from India.

The exhibition has attracted many visitors so far, proving popular not only because of the variety and quality of the products on offer, but also because of its 'all under one roof' concept.

"We come here every year, and we always find something interesting to buy. For me, the most important and attractive part about the Doha Trade fair is that I am able to find products from different parts of the world, all in one place," said Sarah V. who is accompanying her friends to the fair.

Eager to sell more, this year the exhibitors brought the best-selling items, traditional products, antiques and newly-released household products, as well as electronic gadgets to the fair, while offering visitors the chance to try-and-test these products (from juice-blenders, mixers, cookware and kitchenware to cleaning products) .

"This is my second time to participate in this exhibition, and I am very satisfied with the number of customers showing at my stall. I thought it would be a good idea to give a live-show of how our products work and function, this will give my shop more credibility," said Muhammed Assif of Super Asia shop, which sells cookware and kitchenware.

The arts and crafts section received its fair share of accolades, as visitors were astounded by the refined hand-made crafts, portraits and paintings on display. Also the artists themselves were available at the stalls to explain to the visitors and shoppers about their paintings, meanings, the materials used and how they are made."People are interested in my products and I am very proud that my goods are all hand-made and very original. I am a returning exhibitor and I think this exhibition is a great opportunity for me to advertise and showcase my work to the right customers," said Mozhgan from Iran, owner of 'Crease' shop, which sells hand-made ceramic items and home accessories.

According to visitors the food and carpet sections were among the most popular sections of the DTF 2012, as they included a large collection of fine carpets, good-quality food and spices, among many others.

"I love coming to the Doha Trade Fair. Every year, I find new products and items coming from different countries, the thing that makes the exhibition a must-visit shopping destination. This year, I found the carpet and food sections to be the most appealing, there I was able to find the brands that I was looking for," said Nada G. who especially favored the food section.

The Doha Trade Fair 2012 will run from January 1 to January 10. Opening times are from 11.00am until 10.00pm daily and on Friday from 2.00pm until 10.00pm. Entry is free. The parade runs daily starting at 2pm.

The DTF 2012 is organized by Qatar Tourism Authority in association with q.media events. Strategic partners are Seqlia, Al-Mutakamelah Tents, Batteel and Al Shohob Company.

For more information about the Doha Trade Fair, please visit www.doha-tradefair.com

-Ends-

Organized by: Qatar Tourism Authority
Restructured under the Emiri Decree (46) in 2009, Qatar Tourism Authority was given the mandate to organize, enable, and supervise tourism industry development and to organize exhibitions in Qatar, as well as represent and promote Qatar as a quality tourism destination for leisure, business, education, and sport. Qatar Tourism Authority gets actively involved in organizing events and promotions which positively reflect on the general image of Qatar as an evolving tourism destination combining business with leisure. www.qatartourism.gov.qa

In partnership with: q.media
q.media was founded in 2004 with a vision to provide the most innovative and efficient media tools for premium audience delivery. Since its debut, it has worked closely with the regulatory authorities in Qatar and positioned itself as a strategic partner and an effective contributor to the overall development of Qatar. As the largest media provider in the State of Qatar and one of the largest in the region, is continually seeking international partnerships to improve its level of service and place Qatar on the global map of media, advertising and events. www.qmediame.com

For more information contact:
Brown Lloyd James, Qatar
Kimberly Mathern
kimberlym@brownlloydjames.com
+974 6645 5177

Nadine Reaidy
nadiner@brownlloydjames.com
+974 6655 7420

© Press Release 2012