Bahrain and Saudi Arabia (KSA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that seeks to position both countries as a singular regional and global tourism destination.
This landmark agreement not only signifies a milestone in their bilateral relations but also sets the stage for an exponential surge in their respective tourism sectors, said a Bahrain News Agency report.
The MoU was signed by Bahrain Tourism Minister Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb in the presence of Dr Nasser Qaedi, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) and Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, President of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and representatives from both ministries of the two kingdoms. The official ceremony was held at the Bahrain National Museum in Manama.
This ambitious collaboration aims to strengthen the relations between the two kingdoms and reflects their sincere and determined efforts to enhance cooperation in the field of tourism, the report said.
The memorandum includes multiple provisions that expand the scope of tourism cooperation between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, fostering greater collaboration in various areas of mutual interest.
The MoU establishes a framework for combining efforts to market and promote tourism activities and programmes in both kingdoms. It involves coordinating joint events to attract more tourists, fostering growth in specialised tourism sectors, and collaborating with tourism agencies and regional/international tour operators to create shared tourist destinations.
Furthermore, the MoU aims to enhance collaboration in various areas of the tourism industry, striving to achieve sustainable tourism development in both nations. This involves exchanging information and experiences related to tourism legislation, data and statistics, licensing, operation and management of tourism facilities, and developing human resources in the tourism sector.
The potential collaboration includes promoting visits by experts and representatives from the tourism media in both nations, enhancing tourist destinations, providing support for SMEs tourism projects, and participating in tourism exhibitions and conferences held in both kingdoms. These efforts aim to foster tourism development and establish a shared tourism vision that respects the traditions and social values of both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, it said.
* Read the entire report here: https://tinyurl.com/2rssh5mu