Bahrain unveils new tourism strategy

Bahrain is drawing up a strategy to promote its cultural identity invest in tourism. The Un World Tourism Organisation (WTO) is taking part in elaborating the new blueprint, along with tourism experts and concerned government departments. The new-look national strategy will also focus on attracting regional and international tourism to Bahrain. Culture Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Tourism Shaikh Khalid bin Humood Al-Khalifa today unveiled the new-look tourism roadmap. He outlined strides achieved so far to streamline procedures, citing particular the reduction of the time needed to conclude transactions by 70%. He announced that transactions relating to licences, revenues and quality would go hi-tech and be available soon online on e-Government portal. An edict will soon be issued stipulating the rules and regulations which govern licensing hotels and streamlining procedures for investors. A batch of employees from the sector will also enroll at Granada University in Spain to study for their MA degrees in tourism and hospitality industry. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to develop of human resources in the tourism industry, in cooperation with the Labour Ministry. Assistant Undersecretary for Tourism Shaikh Khalid bin Humood Al-Khalifa announced that offices would be opened in Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as a first step to promote tourism in Bahrain. More tourism offices would then be opened in the region and the world to promote Bahrain as a tourism destination. Efforts are also being coordinated with the Ministry of Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs to revamp Bahrain’s beachfronts. According to updated statistics, tourism revenues are expected to soar by 16 percent late this year (2013) to top BD190 million, up from BD160 million in 2009. The investments in the hospitality sector have also bounced back, with seven beachfront hotels under construction. Bahrain aspires to provide over 12000 hotel rooms in 2015, up from 9000 rooms last year (2012) . Bahrain consolidated its status as the prime destination of Saudi tourists. According to latest official figures, 52 percent of tourists who travelled to Bahrain hail from Saudi Arabia.