This month heralds the arrival of the fourth Bahrain International Travel Expo, BITE 2008, in Manama, Bahrain.
Held under the patronage of his highness crown prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, also chairman of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, the exhibition will be officially opened by His Highness on Wednesday May 14 at 5pm.
Since its inception in 2005, as part of a celebration commemorating the 25th anniversary of Sunshine Tours, BITE has gone from a 1,100 sq m exhibition attracting 12,500 visitors to an Expo attracting about 20,000 visitors.
“BITE 2008 continues to uphold its endeavour to spurring the thriving and rapidly expanding travel and tourism industry in the region,” commented Hisham Al Baradie, chairman Magnum Events and Exhibitions Management, organisers of BITE.
“BITE offers the ideal platform for the showcasing of promotions and launching of new products and services, in a dynamic and inspired setting, which simultaneously nurtures relations with existing clients, while developing relations with new clientele,” he said.
Over 100 exhibitors occupying approximately 8,000 sq m are expected to participate and showcase their products and services over the course of the three day event, held at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre until May 17.
Platinum sponsors for BITE 2008 are the Bahrain Economic Development Board along with the Ministry of Information, Tourism Affairs. Gulf Air Bahrain is the official carrier and Qatar Airways are gold sponsors. The Expo is actively supported by Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority. Elite Hospitality is the official hotel, Atlas Travel and Culture Channel the official TV channel and Al Hilal Group and Akhbar Al Khaleej are the media partners.
A total of 46 countries are taking part, and include newcomers to the show: Abu Dhabi, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ethiopia, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.
Numbers are up on last year when the show attracted 41 countries, 105 exhibitors and 18,000 visitors, and where the floor space was less too at 6,500 sq m.
BITE was the first business to consumer travel and tourism event in the region, and its “BITE the MICE” was the first meeting incentive conference exhibitions hosted buyers event in the region.
BITE Statistics
Year Countries Exhibitors Visitors Area in sq m
2005 14 40 12,500 1,100
2006 27 81 16,800 4,900
2007 41 105 18,000 6,500
*2008 48 120 20,000 8,000
* Expected numbers in 2008