Strategic regional collaboration, proactive policy alignment, and a unified destination narrative are the foundational pillars steering the global tourism industry through economic and geopolitical headwinds. This was the definitive consensus during the UN Tourism Ministerial Debate at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, where the Kingdom of Bahrain took centre stage to champion collective economic resilience long before global crises occur.
Collaboration as the ultimate shield
Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism for the Kingdom of Bahrain, strongly drove this sentiment. Sharing Bahrain’s perspective as the chair of the recent GCC Ministers of Tourism meeting, H.E. Al Sairafi emphasised that meaningful integration takes time to solidify: "Collaboration on its own is not built overnight. It's built way before any conflict that happens."
Al Sairafi highlighted the immense economic weight of the Gulf’s tourism sector, revealing that while the global average for tourism’s contribution to GDP hovers around 10 per cent, the GCC average stands out significantly at over 11 per cent.
"Travellers and visitors don't see our countries independently, but what they actually do, they look at them as a block," Al Sairafi explained.
To capture this collective strength, the Minister revealed the official approval of a landmark joint GCC tourism recovery plan.
"The time has come where we do not look at each other's destinations as competitors, but we actually look at how each destination complements the other," she added.
Domestic infrastructure
On the home front, Al Sairafi confirmed that Bahrain has aggressively spearheaded major infrastructure developments to ensure the Kingdom is fully "open for business before the end of the year."
This physical expansion is being reinforced by the domestic launch of a liquidity-focused travel industry package designed to support and scale local private sector stakeholders.
93rd Global Congress
In a major milestone for the Kingdom's meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector, the Minister announced that Bahrain will host the 93rd Global Congress for the first time.
The hosting of this prestigious global aviation and tourism event firmly solidifies Bahrain's growing status as a premier international hub for high-level industry dialogues.
ITIF Forum
The Kingdom of Bahrain will host the International Tourism Investment Forum (ITIF) from January 10 to 12, 2027, in collaboration with UN Tourism.
Al Sairafi and Shaikha Nasser Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, signed the host agreement during the Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai, in the presence of officials and representatives from the tourism sector.
The Forum will bring together ministers, investors, financial institutions, and private sector leaders, focusing on the direction of tourism investment, project financing, and the creation of partnerships that generate long-term economic and social benefits.
The program will also present international investors with Bahrain’s tourism projects and investment opportunities. This cements Bahrain's credentials as an important MICE destination.