MIA Park bazaar gives a boost to home-based businesses, proves popular

This year’s Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park bazaar, a seasonal weekend market, is proving popular since it opened to the public last week. For home-based business owners especially, it has proven to be an opportunity to boost trade and increase exposure.

This year has seen a huge increase in participants, especially home-based businesses, with 250 stalls this year as compared to last year’s 150.

According to The Peninsula, stall owners are optimistic it will attract more residents and tourists, especially given Qatar’s efforts to boost tourism.

“We started with very good business last week, perhaps because people were excited a months-long break. For this season, we expect more tourists because of Qatar Tourism Authority’s efforts to attract more visitors to the country with improved tourist visa policies,” Kaleem Ahmed, a professional photographer, said while speaking to The Peninsula yesterday.

Stall-owners seem of the view that the bazaar will attract more visitors despite the blockade, as Qatar’s tourist visa policies have eased, making it the most open in the region in terms of the number of countries which can avail of visa-free entry.

This year’s MIA Park Bazaar offers a diverse range of products such as artworks, handicrafts and food items, among others, according to Gulf Times.

People can buy apparel, jewellery, toys, postcards, greeting cards, artworks, paintings, handmade home decors, traditional Indian dresses, carpets, personal accessories, cosmetics, stylish bed sheets, children’s shoes, dresses, bags, abayas, perfumes and kites, among others.

Various freshly cooked traditional and international cuisines are also available at the food section.

The MIA Park Bazaar will run every weekend (Fridays between 2pm and 10pm) until spring.

Image credits:

Cover image - Marhaba Qatar

Inline image - The Peninsula