Bahrain’s new visa policy is bearing fruit with thousands of tourists having already benefited from the scheme since its launch late last year.
The Economic Development Board (EDB) said the country was attracting business visitors and tourists, who could now spend longer periods because of the issuance of multiple-entry visas.Visitors to any GCC country are now eligible for a one-month multiple-entry visa while GCC residents and citizens of 102 countries can also obtain three-month multiple-entry visas.A large number of tourists visited the country ahead of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, which took place from April 17 to 19.The EDB said data from October 2014 to February 2015 showed that more than 1,400 visitors from 32 new countries eligible for visa on arrival and more than 2,300 visitors from 36 new countries eligible for eVisas benefitted from the new policies.'The new visa policy is an important development that places Bahrain among the countries with most flexible visa policies in the region,' said EDB chief executive Khalid Al Rumaihi.'It enables expatriates who do business in Bahrain to easily travel in and out of the kingdom, as well as boosting the tourism industry, and will help contribute to the economic growth.'Gulf Hotels director of business development and strategy Zaher Kassir says: 'We are already targeting many potential new markets showing a big interest with the new visa policy. We are already feeding the country with travellers who are looking for a new leisure and business destination.'Gulf Hotels Group operates Bahrain’s first five-star property, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain as well as the Gulf Convention Centre, Gulf Executive Residence, Gulf Executive Offices, the K Hotel Bahrain and the soon-to-open Gulf Residence Amwaj in the kingdom.Overseas it operates the 100-chalet Ocean Paradise Resort in Zanzibar while plans are under way to open a five-star property in Dubai, UAE, in 2017.Gulf Hotels Group has also signed a management agreement with ASDAL Hotel for the operation of a four-star hotel in Seef district of Bahrain, which is under refurbishment and expected to open this September. The 94-key property is 15 minutes away from Bahrain International Airport.'Inbound tourism in Bahrain is a mix of regional and international business and leisure travellers, who come to this attractive destination for its 365 days of sun and great business environment,' says Kassir. Kingdom of Bahrain, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Tourism Affairs representatives can be found on stand number ME1410, while Gulf Hotels Group can be found at stand number HC6700.