Bahrain has launched major initiatives to promote its position as a global tourism centre to increase the sector’s share in the gross domestic product (GDP) and increase the number of countries targeted for attracting more tourists.The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) unveiled the main features of the kingdom’s tourism strategy for years 2022-2026.

The strategy, which was approved by the Cabinet during its meeting chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, is part of the efforts of the BTEA to continue focus on making tourism one of the main sectors that contributes to the national economy and diversification of income in line with Bahrain Vision 2030.

Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister and BTEA chairman Zayed Alzayani said that the broad objectives of the tourism strategy are to promote Bahrain’s position as a global tourism centre, increase the contribution of tourism to the GDP and increase the number of countries targeted for attracting more tourists.He added that the new strategy includes a number of elements including the development of waterfronts, sea leisure activities, business tourism, sports tourism, leisure tourism, medical tourism, heritage tourism and media and films.

He said the BTEA has embarked upon many initiatives and projects that will help achieve the objectives of the strategy.

These include streamlining of procedures at ports of entry, diversification and development of tourist attractions including sites and events, marketing and promotion of tourism in partnership with the private sector and the national carrier Gulf Air and attracting investments in tourism projects. The BTEA has already identified a number of top-rated travel agents in the main target markets to help attract more tourists.

The new strategy is a continuation of Bahrain’s first tourism strategy launched for the years 2016-2019 and focused on facilitation of entry, development of tourist attractions, marketing and promotion and providing adequate accommodation to tourists.

According to available data, the tourism sector’s contribution to the GDP increased from 4.6 per cent in 2015 to 6.8pc in 2019, the total expenditure of incoming tourism increased from BD 1.1 billion to BD1.5bn during the same period, and the number of tourists coming to Bahrain increased from 9.7 million tourists to 11.1m during the same period.

The average tourist nights increased from 2.3 to 3.4 tourist nights, and the average visitor spending amounted to BD71 in 2019 compared with BD72.4 in 2015.

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