The event took place last month in Jabal Al-Akhdar, organised and hosted by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in Oman. The meeting was supervised by GCC Secretariat General.
Bahrain earned this prestigious designation due to its outstanding contributions and discernible impact on elevating the Gulf tourism sector. Recognised for its proactive understanding of the significance of tourism as a major non-oil economic contributor, Bahrain’s efforts stood out in promoting collaborative endeavours within the Gulf tourism industry.
Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Acting Minister of Tourism, led the delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain participating in the ministerial meeting, with the attendance of Dr Nasser Qaedi, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA).
Dr Qaedi stated: “We take immense pride in this achievement in the Kingdom’s tourism sector, which stands as a testament to a series of successful tourism endeavours at local, regional, and international levels. The Kingdom has positioned the tourism sector at the forefront of its developmental agenda.
“This strategic position acknowledges the sector’s pivotal role in driving the sustainable development. Under this vision, substantial investments have been channelled into expanding tourism infrastructure, refining tourism services, and establishing high-quality facilities. These endeavours are aimed at attracting a greater influx of tourists worldwide.”
Dr Qaedi added: “Collaborating closely with its public and private sector partners, BTEA persistently crafts success stories, aiming to fulfil the ambitious tourism goals outlined in the 2022-2026 strategy.
“This intensive effort has transformed Bahrain into a beacon of adaptability, diversity and consistent tourism growth within a remarkably brief timeframe.
“This achievement was evident last year when the Kingdom welcomed approximately 10 million tourists, surpassing the targeted numbers by an impressive 20 per cent. We assure our GCC visitors of an exceptional tourism year ahead. We anticipate the launch of several high-quality tourism initiatives and an array of exclusive travel packages tailored for GCC citizens and residents. These offerings are meticulously designed to attract a broader audience, enhancing tourism appeal across all sectors,” he said.
Bahrain remains committed to expand tourism sector, not only within the GCC region but also to bolster its standing as a prominent hub for regional and international tourists. In the coming months, new and exciting tourism initiatives and captivating entertainment festivals will be unveiled.
Bahrain holds key tourism talks
The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) held high-level discussions on tourism related issues at the 25th UNWTO General Assembly in Uzbekistan.
Bahrain’s delegation to the assembly was led by Dr Nasser Qaedi, CEO of BTEA. Representatives from over 150 member nations, including ministers and top tourism officials, took part in the assembly deliberations.
“We are pleased to be an active part of this prominent UN event with a keen focus on identifying prospects for crafting new policies and effective tools to bolster inclusive and sustainable tourism development, bridging the existing skill gap, and nurturing value-added employment opportunities,” BTEA CEO said.
He added that the General Assembly served as an ideal platform to showcase pivotal UNWTO initiatives, with a greater spotlight on tourism cooperation efforts to promote Bahrain as a destination and enhance travel and tourism partnerships.
“We are keen to join Bahrain’s efforts with regional and global leaders and decision-makers to shape the way forward for the global tourism sector. We at BTEA are set to adopt new mechanisms with our international counterparts to further contribute to the development of global tourism and promote international cooperation.”
“With our promising tourism strategy 2022-2026, the Kingdom is on the right track to achieve its tourism goals of product diversification, increasing the tourism contribution to GDP and drawing more tourists worldwide, adding value to the Kingdom’s sustainable development creating more jobs, and adopting more creative initiatives to support tourism progress,” Dr Qaedi added.