THE Bahrain International Travel Expo (BITE), a consumer show held under the patronage of Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Commander and Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force, has received support from international tourism authorities at the highest levels.
“A high profile delegation including tourism ministers will be attending from Brunei, Malaysia. Sri Lanka, Egypt, Azerbaijan and Syria will be attending the event,” says Abraham John, executive director, Magnum Events and Exhibitions Management, who are organising the event. “In addition, the Egyptian Tourism Authority is planning to launch their road show in Bahrain during BITE, and a high profile of delegation with a cultural troupe will be participating, and nations including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Egypt and India will send a cultural troupe to perform during the three-day event.”
As of the end of March, some 110 exhibitors from 38 countries had confirmed their participation in the show, up from 81 exhibitors from 27 nations in 2006. Among the new countries at the show are Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Iran, the state of Jammu and Kashmir from India, Jordan, Kuwait, Monaco, Morocco, Switzerland and Tunisia. Exhibiting companies include airlines, hotels, tourist boards, car hire companies, cruise lines, health resorts and spas, MICE organisers, educational travel specialists and travel agents and tour operators.
MEEM hopes to see 20,000 visitors this year, as compared to 16,800 last year, says John. “BITE is a gathering of the right company… meeting the right people at the right time. It is a place where great minds meet,” he says.
While the show is targeted at consumers, a fair selection of travel visitors also attend, including business travel organisers, retail travel agents and operators in the inbound, outbound and MICE segments. In addition, MEEM will host a group of 90 MICE buyers.
BITE 2007 runs from May 8 to 10 at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre in Manama.