By M. V. A. Kumar
DOHA: Recreation and entertainment are a sure-bet business that can survive changing consumer spending patterns. The visitor turnout at Aqua Park, despite the humidity and summer heat is sufficient evidence of that fact.
Between the Eid holidays and now nearly 30,000 people have visited the water theme park, which is witnessing its sixth season since inception, according to its General Manager, Mohamed Firdaus (pictured). “The Eid Al-Fitr holidays and July are our peak season. We expect another surge in visitor turnout after residents return from their summer break and up to Eid Al-Adha. We are expecting many visitors from Saudi Arabia to visit the park during the Eid holidays.”
He says visitors from Saudi Arabia comprise mainly families.
The park management relies on social media like Facebook to communicate with its target audience and invite them to revisit the park for more fun, recreation and family time. Although the standard entrance ticket rates are QR180 for adults and QR130 for children, those who book using the online platform are charged only QR155 (adults) and QR105 (children). So far visitor turnout has been at par with last year’s figures, Firdaus said.
The tickets entitle visitors access to all rides, except the Stingray Surfing machine, says Firdaus. Normally the park charges QR50 per person using the surfing machine, but it has an internal promotion at present, which allows three persons to enjoy this ride for QR100. Other offerings for adults and children include wave pool, lazy river, ‘Jacuzzi Cave’, lagoon pool, tube slides, speed slides and Space Boat.
Aqua Park Qatar, the country’s first water theme park, has a capacity of over 3,000 visitors. This tourist attraction is managed by Kuwait-based Aqua Park Kuwait, which has been managing water theme parks in the Gulf region for nearly two decades. During operating months it has 115 employees as against 20 during non-operating months.
Developed by Hala Group Enterprises, the park is operated and managed according to the best practices and highest safety standards in maintaining the cleanliness of water with the assistance of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa). Its parking area can accommodate nearly 400 cars.
The Peninsula
