Tourism revenues topped 228m Bahraini dinar

The overall revenues grew by 17.37% per cent last year (2014) to top BD228 Million, compared with the same period in 2013, Minister of Industry and Commerce Zayed bin Rashid Alzayani announced.
Citing updated statistics, he said that around 10 million individuals visited Bahrain with a growth by 11.1% than 2013, including 6.6 million visitors from GCC countries with an increase by 16.8% compared with 2013. Saudis represented majority of GCC visitors of around 6 million visitors with an increase by 19.3% compared with 2013.
Bahrain’s hotels registered occupancy rate of 50.2% in 2014 with an increase by 11.6% compared with 2013 that reached 45%. There are a total of 119 hotels in Bahrain, of which 15 five-star hotels, 43 four-star hotels, 35 three-stars hotels, 14 two-star hotels, 2 one-star hotels and five resorts.
A total of 2,100 Bahrainis were recruited in the hospitality sector with an increase in the Bahrainisation rate by 23% last year. The overall number of local manpower in the tourism sector increased by 6%, compared with the 2013 figures.
During the cruise season (2014-2015), a total of 26 ships transporting 41,000 tourists onboard docked in Bahrain seaports, increasing by 8.5% compared with the 2013-2014 figures. Alzayani stressed his readiness to meet all investors and hoteliers to discuss issues concerning the hospitality sector, stressing the ministry's resolve to promote sustainable tourism which takes into account Bahrain's traditions and values.