Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday announced a 30-day Delhi Shopping Festival which will be organised from January 28 to February 26 next year. “This will be the biggest shopping festival in India. We are starting it now. I expect that in a few years, we will make it the biggest shopping festival in the world," Kejriwal said.
Addressing a digital presser, Kejriwal said he is in talks with airlines for special packages for passengers who would like to visit Delhi Shopping Festival.
Giving out the details about the mega event Kejriwal highlighted that there would be heavy discounts on all items, 200 concerts in 30 days will be organised along with special food walks. “For the festival, the city will be divided into North, South, East, West and Central Zone to host different components of the shopping festival. On the basis of the USP, brand awareness, genres of shopping, no of shops, GST collection, space, footfall, connectivity and cleanliness, the Government will further narrow down upon 15 iconic markets and 10 malls across all zones to take this festival to the ground,” said Kejriwal.
"This is great news for employment, business and economy in Delhi. In the beginning of the year 2023, Delhi will host a world-class ‘Delhi Shopping Festival,’” Kejriwal added. “This will create 1,000s of jobs and would give a huge boost to the economy,” Kejriwal claimed. The Delhi Chief Minister said the shopping festival will boost the city's economy and help the local businessmen, traders and vendors.
"People will be invited from across the country as well as the world to experience Delhi and its culture. This will be an unparalleled shopping experience. Heavy discounts will be offered. Entire Delhi will be decorated. Exhibitions will also be organised," Kejriwal said. “The Delhi Government will make it the biggest shopping festival in the world in the coming few years. Exhibitions on spirituality, gaming, technology and health will be organised in Delhi Shopping Festival. All markets, shops and malls of Delhi will be decorated,” said Kejriwal.
“The festival is set to see a world-class extravaganza hosting 20,000 people on ground and millions online. Festival will be a special food walk consisting of cuisines from all parts of the country including Marathi, South Indian, Gujarati, Bengali dishes. Every famous restaurant and hotel industry of Delhi and the entire county will participate,” he said. After the Delhi Chief Minister’s announcement, several traders and restaurant owners in the national Capital on Wednesday welcomed Kejriwal's announcement of hosting the 'Delhi Shopping Festival', saying it will make markets in the city famous and lead to an increase in business.
However, they expressed concern over the lack of clarity on the festival and urged the Government to hold dialogues with stakeholders to make it successful. Small eateries and big restaurant owners here are also hopeful that the event will lead to a surge in business. "People will come and it will lead to a surge in sales. We are thankful for the Government for thinking in this direction," Rohit, owner of a food joint in RK Puram, said.
Restaurant owners have also urged the Government to discuss about the festival with them and take their inputs. "Definitely this will help in increasing the footfall. But the major factor is what kind of crowd they can attract.
The business will increase in the small eateries if people from the lower-income group come. If the people from the upper-income group come, there will be good business in high-end restaurants," said Manpreet Singh, treasurer of the National Restaurants Association of India.