THE second Bahrain International Travel Expo, BITE 2006 has received an encouraging response from the Business Community with participation from the travel trade and tourism boards from across the world.
At a press briefing conducted by the organisers Magnum Exhibitions & Events Management (Meem), it was stated that BITE 2006 had achieved a business focus that synchronises with the tourism objectives laid out by the Bahrain government.
The main highlight of this year’s BITE is the invitation of 75 key MICE buyers from Germany, France, UK, Ireland, Greece, South Africa and India.
Says Jamil A Wafa, chairman and chief executive, Unitag Group, “For the first time in the Middle East, we will be hosting 75 senior MICE buyers, comprising senior corporate executives, MICE travel experts and professional journalists. “This is a definite step on the part of the private sector to complement the government’s efforts to showcase Bahrain as the most desirable tourism hub. Bahrain is an ideal destination for incentive travellers and conference organisers. The Kingdom is popular with tourists from around the world for its warm hospitality and friendly people. Strategically located in the heart of the Arabian Gulf, Bahrain offers sound infrastructure and excellent exhibition and conference facilities.”
The MICE visitors at BITE 2006 represent organisations with a collective annual spend of $2.5 billion.
Buyers will have an opportunity to take part in a comprehensive destination programme where they will experience the delights of everything Bahrain has to offer. They will be exposed to the excellent conference and hospitality facilities Bahrain has to offer, The Bahrain Financial Harbour, the Bahrain International Circuit, the Golf course and the various cultural and historical attractions in the Kingdom.
Exhibitors from Australia, Bahrain, Brunei, Indonesia, Cyprus, Egypt, Syria, France, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Singapore and Turkey have already signed up for BITE 2006. The expo has generated keen interest from travel agents, airlines, international hotel chains, tourism boards and tour operators from across the world.
BITE 2006 will be held under the patronage of Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force, Bahrain. The event’s main sponsor is the Economic Development Board (EDB). It is supported by the ministries of Information and Tourism Affairs, and Commerce and Industry, as well as from the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.
The three-day event is scheduled to be held at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre from May 9 to 11 and is expected to draw in over 18,000 visitors from Bahrain and neighbouring countries.