Tag Archives: Bahrain

The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) is set to announce a series of groundbreaking initiatives aimed at solidifying Bahrain’s position as a premier global tourist destination. The declaration follows Bahrain’s remarkable achievement in Manama being chosen as the capital of Gulf tourism for the year 2024 during the 7th meeting of the ministers responsible for tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The prestigious designation of “Manama” as the capital of Gulf tourism for 2024 is a testament to Bahrain’s exceptional contributions to the growth of Gulf tourism sector. The Kingdom of Bahrain’s foresight in recognizing tourism’s potential as a vital sector capable of driving economic growth and ensuring sustainable development played a pivotal role in securing this honour. Bahrain is committed to nurturing a thriving and dynamically expanding tourism sector, with the aim of not only enhancing its reputation as a prominent hub for regional and international tourists but also fostering stronger tourism cooperation within the GCC region. Dr. Nasser Ali Qaedi, CEO, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) said, “We take immense pride in this achievement in the Kingdom’s tourism sector, which stands as a testament to a series of successful tourism endeavors 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 sustainable development. Under this vision, substantial investments have been channeled into expanding tourism infrastructure, refining tourism services, and establishing high-quality facilities. These endeavors 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 fulfill …

According to Bahrain News Agency, HE Fatima Jaffar Al Sairafi Minister of Tourism Bahrain, shared, “the growth indicators achieved by the tourism sector over the past two years have exceeded the targets set in Bahrain’s tourism strategy 2022-2026.” She made the statement as she attended a work meeting which was held yesterday at the Exhibition World Bahrain to discuss the progress in implementing the tourism strategy 2022-2026, which is part of the economic recovery plan. The meeting was attended by Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Chairman Sameer Nasser, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nasser Qaidi. HE Al Sairafi stressed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening partnership with all government agencies, representatives of the private sector, and tourism sector establishments, in implementing the strategy. “The success of this national strategy depends on the cooperation of all government and private institutions, given the importance of the tourism sector in creating opportunities, providing jobs and diversifying the sources of income and supporting Bahrain’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), she said. She outlined pathways for implementing the tourism strategy, noting that the ministry and the authority are working with various stakeholders from the public and private sectors concerned with the tourism sector. She indicated the strategy includes four core pillars – “destinations”, enhancing Bahrain’s standing as a leading regional and international tourist destination through developing marine and sports tourism, revamping beaches, recreational facilities, infrastructure and cultural facilities, and organizing more events. The strategy also focuses on developing the airline network and facilitating visas and port procedures (arrival), extensive promotional campaigns at the regional and international level (marketing), and through increasing the …

SalamAir announced non-stop flights between Bahrain and Salalah. The new service will commenced last week, supporting the Khareef season. The non-stop flight will operate once a week from Bahrain to Salalah every Wednesday and from Salalah to Bahrain every Saturday, In addition to the daily flight via Muscat International Airport. The non-stop flights will offer many opportunities to plan the season’s adventures. SalamAir’s commitment to serving the Salalah Airport is further highlighted by its non-stop flights from Salalah to Muscat, Suhar, Medina, and Calicut. With the addition of the Bahrain route, SalamAir now offers more choices and convenience to travellers. Commenting on the expansion, Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, said, “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new non-stop service between Bahrain and Salalah. This new route will strengthen the commercial and tourism ties between Oman and Bahrain, and we are proud to be a part of this effort.” Salalah, known for its lush greenery and moderate climate during the Khareef season and its wide variety of hotels and accommodations that can meet different tourists budgets and expectations , is popular among travelers from Bahrain seeking regional adventures. With this new non-stop route, SalamAir aims to provide travelers with a hassle-free and seamless experience, improving connectivity and ease of access for both countries. Now, the SalamAir network consists of 39 destinations; SalamAir flies to domestic destinations, including Muscat, Salalah, Suhar, Duqm, and Masirah, and international destinations Dubai, Fujairah, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Shiraz, Tehran, Mashhad, Istanbul, Rize, Trabzon, Alexandria, Beirut, Almaty, Baku, Kuala Lumpur, Prague, Sarajevo, Bangkok, Phuket, Colombo, Chattogram, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Karachi, Multan, Sialkot, Lucknow, Jaipur and Trivandrum. SalamAir flies directly from Suhar …

Frasers Hospitality has further expanded its presence in the Middle East with the entry into a new management agreement to operate Fraser Suites Al Liwan Bahrain. This is in partnership with Seef Properties. This development cements Frasers Hospitality’s presence in the Middle East region. The development comes as Frasers Hospitality strengthens its long-standing partnership with Seef Properties through an extension of its existing management agreement of Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain to 2031. The newly anticipated Fraser Suites Al Liwan Bahrain will offer 63 gold-standard serviced apartment units across a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, spread over three floors. This will include nine one-bedroom serviced apartments, 44 two-bedroom serviced apartments and 12 three-bedroom serviced apartments, perfect for those seeking comfort in accommodations fitted with the latest technologies and modern furnishings. Fraser Suites Al Liwan Bahrain forms part of the Al Liwan mixed-use development under Seef Properties which has been designed to embody the essence of the ‘Live, Work and Play’ lifestyle and is nestled within the neighbourhood of Hamala with a direct connection to the Al Liwan Mall in the Kingdom of Bahrain’s primary entertainment district. The development is ideal under the Fraser Suites brand due to its unique ability to cater to the highly-premium lifestyle needs of extended-stay guests. The name, Al Liwan, reflects cohesion, unity, and togetherness, inspired by the culture of the region and speaking to the desires of discerning guests. Alongside Fraser Suites Al Liwan Bahrain, the new district offers numerous dining options, cafés, and leisure opportunities. At the core of the development lies the Central Plaza, a generous open space created for communal gatherings and entertainment, providing a city retreat for both visitors and …

SalamAir announces the introduction of new non-stop flights connecting Salalah and Bahrain during the much-anticipated Khareef season. Commencing July 5th, this strategic initiative aims to cater to the growing demand from travellers seeking a seamless travel experience between these two popular destinations. SalamAir’s CEO, Captain Mohamed Ahmed, said, “We are proud to announce the launch of a new non-stop flight route between Salalah and Bahrain during the Khareef season in response to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s direction to the concerned authorities to provide direct subsidies on fuel prices at Salalah Airport, equivalent to fuel prices at Muscat International Airport.” Captain Mohamed Ahmed added, “The introduction of non-stop flights between Salalah and Bahrain supports the growing inbound tourism sector and contributes to the realization of Oman’s ambitious Vision 2040.”

Oman Air has announced the expansion of its flight services to Bahrain and Doha, offering passengers increased convenience and flexibility. As of this month, the airline is operating 11 flights per week between Muscat and Bahrain, while flights between Muscat and Doha will increase from 21 to 35 a week on 24 June. Part of its summer schedule, the airline is offering a range of convenient timings, from early in the morning to late at night, enabling guests to seamlessly plan business trips, weekend getaways and even daytrips. Connecting Muscat to major cities across the GCC, Oman Air also offers 35 flights a week to Dubai, 21 flights a week to Riyadh and Jeddah, and 14 flights a week to Kuwait. Meanwhile, it continues to cater to the increasing number of Muscat-based travellers who are choosing to holiday in the region. Wherever the destination, the enhanced flight schedule allows travelers to optimise their plans and enjoy a smooth and seamless travel experience.

It was shared by Bahrain News Agency that Bahrain and Saudi Arabia has signed a memorandum of understanding between the two countries to boost tourism in both destinations. 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. Fatima Bint Jaffar Al Sairifi, Tourism Minister Bahrain has affirmed that the signed agreement with Saudi Arabia in the field of tourism will confirm the status of both nations as a joint regional and global tourism destination. According to Minister Al Sairifi, this agreement is the first cooperation agreement between the tourism sectors of the two countries, where they also prepared a comprehensive marketing plan in this area that consists of engaging the private sector in promoting the two countries as one tourism destination. Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Minister, underlined the importance of the agreement between the two countries, pointing out that the MoU signing is the culmination of the long-standing historic relations, in line with the directives of their leaderships. He emphasised the importance of staying on top of the latest developments in the Gulf region’s tourism sector, especially in the two kingdoms, which boast a rich culture, civilization, and heritage, in order to strengthen tourism cooperation. Minister Al Khateeb said that the agreement addressed important issues, including training and developing human resources, investing in technology in the tourism industry, and establishing joint marketing programmes to promote the cultures of the two countries and the region to tourists from around the world. He affirmed that the agreement will also develop the tourism investment in both countries, as well as improve and enrich the …

 The Kingdom of Bahrain has cemented its business-friendly reputation, ranking 1st globally as the ‘Best Destination for Getting Started Abroad’ in 2023, according to the Expat Essentials Index published by InterNations. The milestone ranking of first in the overall index, which places Bahrain firmly ahead of leading countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Canada, is based on a comprehensive survey that analyses the performance of countries across several key indices, resulting in a comparative scale on both regional and international levels. Citing Bahrain as the ‘ideal place for easy beginnings’, the index surveyed foreigners across 52 countries in the world, rating each destination based on vital aspects typically associated with settling into a country. Alongside its global ranking of 1st overall, the Kingdom additionally ranked 1st in MENA and 11th globally for Digital Life, a testament to Bahrain’s advanced financial and digital infrastructure and progressive regulatory framework. The survey scored countries across four key pillars, analyzing aspects including digital readiness, online government services, ease of digital payments, ease of opening a bank account and obtaining a visa, in addition to ease and affordability of housing. Furthermore, the metrics assessed potential language barriers, in terms of ease of living without speaking the local language, for which Bahrain ranked 4th globally, which reaffirms Bahrain’s business friendly environment and talented workforce that combines highly skilled, multi-lingual, hospitable Bahraini nationals alongside a diverse expat talent pool offering a global perspective. Bahrain also ranked 1st in MENA and 3rd globally in ease of opening a bank account. 67% of surveyed expats reported high levels of ease in dealing with local authorities, versus the global average of 40%. Ranking 2nd globally …

RezLive.com hosted two networking events, firstly in Muscat, followed by Bahrain which was attended by leading local travel agents and tour operators. The purpose of the event was to thank the local travel industry for its consistent support and to inform travel partners about the additional benefits of working with RezLive.com. Real business discussions, a flow of knowledge and information, and a few feedbacks and suggestions took place throughout the session. Jaal Shah (Group Managing Director – Travel Designer Group), firstly expressed his gratitude to the local travel partners for the resounding support they have received from the respective local markets. He also stressed the significance of maintaining and bolstering the strong foundation they share with RezLive.com. Last but not least, he added, we at RezLive.com (A Product of Travel Designer Group) recognise the value of our travel partners and work tirelessly to provide them with cutting-edge services that will simplify their tasks. Zaheer Jeddy, Deputy Regional Manager, updated the travel partners with innovative offerings from RezLive.com and at the same time oriented them about An Exclusive Loyalty program i.e “rezREWARDS”, which was appraised by the local travel partners and they look forward to continuing their support and business cooperation to RezLive.com (Preferred B2B Global Travel Wholesaler).      

It was announced by the UK Government that, from 1 June, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will join other Gulf Cooperation Council countries with UK electronic visa waiver status, making it easier and cheaper to travel to the UK. This positive change comes as the UK is open to business and welcoming back international visitors with all COVID-19 travel restrictions lifted.  VisitBritain has already been rolling out a multi-million-pound global GREAT Britain marketing campaign “Welcome to another side of Britain” to inspire visitors to book a trip to the UK. VisitBritain Director for Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa (APMEA) and North Asia Tricia Warwick said: “It is fantastic news that travel to the UK will become easier for travellers from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain who will now be able to obtain their British visa in 48 hours and for 30 GBP. Saudi Arabia is one of our highest spending markets, we know there is strong pent-up demand for international travel from the Gulf and making it easier for visitors to get to the UK is crucial to our message of welcome and to our competitive tourism offer. We know that GCC visitors are keen to visit the UK now that travel restrictions have eased and we can’t wait to welcome them back. GCC visitors enjoy our outstanding experiences whether that be in shopping, sports events, food or our beautiful landscapes. “VisitBritain is out in market competing hard for visitors from the Gulf at the Arabian Travel Market this week in Dubai, working with top travel trade buyers from across the region to highlight why now is a brilliant time to book a trip to Britain. We very much hope that visitors …