Tourists visit Qal'at al-Bahrain, an archaeological site near Manama. Jaime Puebla / The National
Tourists visit Qal'at al-Bahrain, an archaeological site near Manama. Jaime Puebla / The National
Tourists visit Qal'at al-Bahrain, an archaeological site near Manama. Jaime Puebla / The National
Tourists visit Qal'at al-Bahrain, an archaeological site near Manama. Jaime Puebla / The National

Davos 2022: how Bahrain plans to double the size of its tourism sector in five years


Mustafa Alrawi
  • English
  • Arabic

Bahrain is confident it can attract 14 million visitors annually by 2026 as it almost doubles its tourism sector's contribution to economic output to 11.4 per cent.

The kingdom's accelerated tourism push will build on previous achievements, in tandem with plans to build up its business events sector, while boosting growth from markets such as India, China and the US, Zayed Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, told The National on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos.

“We did it in the first strategy from 2015 to 2019. We went from 3.4 per cent to 6.9 per cent [contribution to GDP],” Mr Alzayani said.

“Most of it had to do with awareness. A strategy, which was awareness, attractions, access and accommodation.”

The strategy was aimed at low hanging fruit and “putting Bahrain on the map”.

Zayed Alzayani is Bahrain's Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, and has been in the role since December 2014. Source: Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism
Zayed Alzayani is Bahrain's Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, and has been in the role since December 2014. Source: Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism

“We picked eight markets. UK was one. We picked them because they are big source markets, and there is direct connectivity to Bahrain,” said Mr Alzayani, who is also chairman of national airline Gulf Air.

“For example, we surveyed France, 153 travel agencies, some of the multi-branches. None of them had any material about Bahrain and Gulf Air has been flying to Paris since 1976.”

“We went from nine million tourists [a year] to almost 12 [million], 11.8. So, now we are going to 14 million.”

In the latest push to hit 14 million by 2026, the campaign has been expanded to 19 markets, he said.

“Between the first and the second [campaign], we reduced the awareness, went more on tactical,” he said. “So, we expanded the footprint to 19 markets. We brought in Gulf Air as a strategic partner. So, the growth of the Gulf Air network is synchronised with the source markets we feel are important for Bahrain.”

We brought in Gulf Air as a strategic partner. So, the growth of the Gulf Air network is synchronised with the source markets we feel are important for Bahrain.
Zayed Alzayani,
Bahrain's Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism

Events, including regular fixtures such as the Formula One GP or the IISS Manama Dialogue, are part of the marketing strategy for attracting visitors but there will also be an emphasis on business conferences and meetings.

A new exhibition and convention centre, called Exhibition World Bahrain, is expected to be ready n November.

“It will be one of the largest in the area. Top five in the world. We have 100,000 square metres of exhibition space, 40,000 square metres of convention space [and a] 4,000 seat auditorium,” Mr Alzayani said.

“It will help Bahrain on the business tourism side, the Mice [meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions]. And that is good for us on two folds; it supports the tourism sector. They are heavy spenders, they stay for long periods.”

Mr Alzayani said it would create business opportunities for joint ventures and foreign direct investment into Bahrain “when you bring all these big conventions and all these people from around the world. We are confident we will hit the 14 [million target]".

“We are pitching for events that would go to Las Vegas or Hong Kong or Shanghai, because what we have is much bigger than Dubai or Doha. The capacity that I discussed with you doesn't exist in the Gulf,” he said.

“We have reformed a lot of our visa processes to make it easier to access Bahrain. We are creating more tourism content in Bahrain, whether it is on infrastructure or the private sector, investing in F&B [food and beverage] outlets and activities. We have even invested in a tour guide programme with the World Travel and Tourism Organisation, to create the proper image and presentation of Bahrain.”

Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz celebrate after a first and second-place finish in the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix in March 2022. AP
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz celebrate after a first and second-place finish in the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix in March 2022. AP

Greater investment in Gulf Air will also be key, he said.

“We are investing in our airline, not just in the hardware and the new planes which we have coming up to 2026. We have a new airport. And in the last two years, Gulf Air has gone from a three star to a five-star airline,” said Mr Alzayani.

I think we did very well during Covid-19. It gave us more of a story to tell. We never had to shut down. We never shut our airport. We never stopped our airline, we never closed our borders. We never had curfews.
Zayed Alzayani,
Bahrain's Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism

“So, within the Covid [period], we have worked a lot on the quality and the efficiency of the airline to upgrade it to an international standard. India is a huge market for us. It is also a growth opportunity for us. China is a market we are yet to open up,” he said.

“And this is where I say Gulf Air synchronises with the tourism because we are planning to launch a route to China from Bahrain. We don't have direct connectivity yet. Another destination would be the US. So, we are hopeful to get the route set up by the beginning of next year.”

Risks that could have an impact include a resurgence of Covid-19, as well as competition from other markets.

“I think we did very well during Covid-19. It gave us more of a story to tell. We never had to shut down. We never shut our airport. We never stopped our airline, we never closed our borders. We never had curfews,” said Mr Alzayani.

“Covid-19 was probably my proudest moment of being a government official … the way everybody worked together, not just government, private citizens, expatriates; the whole nation really came together to face one threat. And everybody played their part, volunteers, police medical staff, everybody,” he said.

Oil prices above $100 a barrel help Bahrain in terms of its fiscal position but will not affect its economic diversification plans, Mr Alzayani said.

“We should always be growth-driven. And, you know, when [the] growth [target] is met, we shouldn't stop, you should double down,” he said. “And that is the only sustainable way to go forward. It won't last forever. We won't have oil prices where they are.”

Ultimately, the ambition is for Bahrain to be a “hub of excellence”.

“The biggest challenge for Bahrain is to change the mindset from thinking locally to thinking globally,” he said. “We are very small geographically. And the only way to achieve huge success is to think how to set up to be global from day one.”

Marathon results

Men:

 1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13 

2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50 

3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25 

4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46 

5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48  

Women:

1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30 

2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01 

3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30 

4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43 

5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01  

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Draw

Quarter-finals

Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)

RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)

Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)

Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

RESULT

Bayern Munich 3 Chelsea 2
Bayern: Rafinha (6'), Muller (12', 27')
Chelsea: Alonso (45' 3), Batshuayi (85')

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPurpl%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarl%20Naim%2C%20Wissam%20Ghorra%2C%20Jean-Marie%20Khoueir%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHub71%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%20and%20Beirut%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%242%20million%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10

ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons

Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium

The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page

 

Hawks

Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar

Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish

 

Falcons

Coach: Najeeb Amar

Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh

 

 

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Haltia.ai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Arto%20Bendiken%20and%20Talal%20Thabet%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241.7%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self%2C%20family%20and%20friends%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
World Cricket League Division 2

In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.

UAE fixtures

Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)

Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday

WORLD RECORD FEES FOR GOALKEEPERS

1) Kepa Arrizabalaga, Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea (£72m)

2) Alisson, Roma to Liverpool (£67m)

3) Ederson, Benfica to Manchester City (£35m)

4) Gianluigi Buffon, Parma to Juventus (£33m)

5) Angelo Peruzzi, Inter Milan to Lazio (£15.7m

Company profile

Name: The Concept

Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal

Based: Abu Dhabi

Founded: 2017

Number of employees: 7

Sector: Aviation and space industry

Funding: $250,000

Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FIXTURES

Nov 04-05: v Western Australia XI, Perth
Nov 08-11: v Cricket Australia XI, Adelaide
Nov 15-18 v Cricket Australia XI, Townsville (d/n)
Nov 23-27: 1ST TEST v AUSTRALIA, Brisbane
Dec 02-06: 2ND TEST v AUSTRALIA, Adelaide (d/n)
Dec 09-10: v Cricket Australia XI, Perth
Dec 14-18: 3RD TEST v AUSTRALIA, Perth
Dec 26-30 4TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Melbourne
Jan 04-08: 5TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Sydney

Note: d/n = day/night

WHEN TO GO:

September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.

WHERE TO STAY:

Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
History's medical milestones

1799 - First small pox vaccine administered

1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery

1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases

1895 - Discovery of x-rays

1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time

1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

1953 - Structure of DNA discovered

1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place 

1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill

1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.

1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Graduated from the American University of Sharjah

She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters

Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks

Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding

 

The biog

Most memorable achievement: Leading my first city-wide charity campaign in Toronto holds a special place in my heart. It was for Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women program and showed me the power of how communities can come together in the smallest ways to have such wide impact.

Favourite film: Childhood favourite would be Disney’s Jungle Book and classic favourite Gone With The Wind.

Favourite book: To Kill A Mockingbird for a timeless story on justice and courage and Harry Potters for my love of all things magical.

Favourite quote: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill

Favourite food: Dim sum

Favourite place to travel to: Anywhere with natural beauty, wildlife and awe-inspiring sunsets.

Updated: May 24, 2022, 8:11 AM`