BAHRAIN’S tourism industry is growing in size and stature, buoyed by a host of cultural events and major hotel and infrastructure developments.
Last year, Bahrain’s capital Manama was named the Arab Capital of Culture by the Arab League and this year the celebrations continue with the League naming the city as the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2013.
Shaikh Khalid bin Humood Al Khalifa, acting assistant undersecretary of tourism, says the kingdom has been able to establish itself as a cultural tourism destination in the region on the back of these events. “We are entering a new era and our new strategy is based on cultural tourism,” he says.
As the government presses ahead with multi-billion-dollar transportation infrastructure plans, Bahrain’s tourism authorities are cashing in on the 2013 Capital of Arab Tourism title with a raft of events.
The recently concluded Summer Festival was a big success attracting tourists to stay in the kingdom an average of nine days compared to the usual two days with the festival attracting around 20,000 visitors.
Sheikh Khalid says that Bahrain is focusing on the Saudi market to provide a “quality experience” to visitors, adding that the kingdom’s proximity to Saudi Arabia, business pedigree and international sporting and leisure attractions remain key factors in driving tourism receipts.
To celebrate its status as the 2013 ‘tourism capital’, Bahrain has been hosting themed events in line with the four seasons, which have so far proved popular with tourists.
“We have already hosted more than 60 cultural events of international repute so far this year and these have been well received,” says Shaikh Khalid.
These include a host of events held in March as part of the ‘Spring of Culture’ which was launched in 2005.
The brainchild of Minister of Culture Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, the annual festival features internationally renowned musicians and artists including Andrea Bocelli and Julio Iglesias, among others.
For 2013, three themes – culture, sport, and leisure – have so far been held with the fourth – green tourism – now under way. The activities lined up to bring in more tourists during the ‘green season’, which falls from October to December, will be the culmination of events marking Manama as the 2013 Capital of Arab Tourism.
Qal’at Al Bahrain, the Muharraq pearl harbour, which was declared a Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage Site last year, will be also unveiled during this season. The new attraction is expected to attract thousands of tourists every year, Shaikh Khalid says.
Among other activities, Bahrain will also showcase its investments made in the Tree of Life, a famous tourist attraction. Also, to help Bahrainis hone their handicraft skills, the Ministry of Culture will bring in European experts to help them utilise their resources better.
A workshop will be held to raise awareness on maintaining the ecosystem surrounding Hawar Island and the ministry also plans to take steps to promote the indigenous wildlife of Bahrain, including migratory birds and marine life, especially the hundreds of dugongs that inhabit the waters of the kingdom during the season.
The Ministry of Culture has also been redeveloping Bahrain’s traditional markets and cafes including the historic Manama Suq in Bab Al Bahrain and the Qaisariya Suq in Muharraq. The mandate is to preserve their heritage and architecture while introducing a new spiritual and emotional life for residents and visitors.
Meanwhile, Bahrain attracted investments worth BD150 million ($394 million) in the hotel sector this year, and a host of new properties are in various stages of planning and opening in the kingdom.
Hilton Worldwide will return to Bahrain in 2015 in a project worth BD60 million ($159.17 million). The five-star DoubleTree Suites by Hilton will open in the upscale residential area of Juffair.
A luxury Four Seasons hotel is expected to open in April 2014 at the Bahrain Bay area, which is predicted to attract around $300 million in benefits over the next five to seven years as well as boost employment in the real estate and hospitality sectors.
In addition, the Manama and Northern Municipal Councils are seeking support from the Ministry for a new scheme approved by Unesco in a bid to attract tourists to Bahrain Fort, another World Heritage Site in the kingdom. Through the scheme, businessmen could start selling products from boats as part of plans to build Bahrain’s first floating market. The project will include a port, a colourful market with boats, traditional cafes and seafront restaurants surrounding the fort.