Bahrain announces new strategy to...

The country aims to increase the total number of tourist visitors to 14.1 million by 2026

Bahrain’s Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed R AlZayani has announced a new 2022-2026 tourism strategy, which aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economic portfolio in parallel with the recently launched Economic Recovery Plan. The plans are in line with the country’s development goals, led by King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa.

AlZayani stated that the tourism sector will aim to increase the total number of visitors to 14.1 million by 2026 and the average daily visitor spend to BHD74.8, while increasing the average tourist’s stay to 3.5 days.

AlZayani also highlighted that the tourism plan will contribute to the national economy, increase the Kingdom’s competitiveness and attract further investments that will benefit the country and its citizens.

The new tourism strategy is an extension of the 2016-2019 strategy, which achieved its goals despite various challenges.

AlZayani explained: “When the strategy was launched in 2015, the travel and tourism sector represented less than 4% of the gross domestic product. Tourism’s contribution to GDP has grown to approximately 7% as a result of the efforts and initiatives launched by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority.”

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The new strategy’s framework includes four main objectives:

to increase the contribution of tourism to GDP to reach 11.4% in 2026
to highlight Bahrain’s position as a global tourist hub
to increase the number of targeted countries
to diversify tourism products

AlZayani noted the role of travel agencies in further developing the tourism sector

He highlighted specific tourism sectors to be developed including marine attractions, business tourism, sports tourism, recreational tourism, medical tourism, cultural tourism and media tourism.

The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority is also developing several tourism projects, including the diving waterfront, the Bahrain Bay beach project, and the Qalali Coast waterfront.

Additional resorts under construction in the country include the Mantis Hotel and Resort in the Hawar Islands, Jumeirah Bahrain Bay Resort, the Tourist City project, Bilaj Aljazayer Beach development project and the Saada project, which will be completed by January 2023.

For more information, visit www.bahrainexhibitions.com