iGA holds workshop on improving tourism statistics in Bahrain

Manama, October 9 (BNA) The Information and eGovernment Authority, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, organized a workshop on improving mechanisms for collecting tourism statistics in the Kingdom of Bahrain. More than 20 government and tourism experts attended the conference.

Noura Khamis Al-Saadoun, Director of Economic Statistics at the Information and e-Government Authority, said that the workshop, which reflects the strong partnership between the Information and e-Government Authority and the Ministry, comes within the framework of continuous efforts towards improving the tourism sector, which is one of the most important contributors to the Kingdom’s national economy. . Starting in 2015, Bahrain’s tourism statistics were digitized as part of a multi-stage strategy to develop the sector. This has led to the improvement of data sources in line with the recommendations of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the creation of a comprehensive database of statistics and information, compiled from government agencies using the Bahrain Open Data Portal (data.gov.bh). She highlighted the importance of indicators and data in assisting government agencies and decision makers in achieving national goals and supporting the development of the Kingdom.

Al-Saadoun added that the main objective of the workshop is to explore and exchange ideas on how to further develop data collection and production in coordination with relevant tourism entities. Another objective is to discuss the technical aspects of disseminating advanced technologies and improving government administrative records, which are necessary to meet the standards of national, regional and global statistical data collection, and tourism statistics in particular. This is in addition to providing the necessary data inputs to implement Bahrain’s tourism strategy and support decision makers.

During her presentation on the current status of tourism statistics, Al-Saadoun covered the various stages of the national tourism statistics project, since the launch of surveys of tourism establishments in the Kingdom until the present day. She highlighted a number of achievements made by the Information and eGovernment Authority, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, including the establishment of a comprehensive database of tourism demand (visits, classifications and expenditures of tourists), supply (products offered to tourists), and the tourism satellite. The account (an internationally accredited accounting tool for calculating the contribution of tourism to the national economy), all of which help in achieving the sustainable development goals and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.

She added that the statistical work underwent changes during the pandemic period, which posed challenges in collecting field data using traditional surveys. This entailed exploring alternative methods that use big data resources and administrative records. The Information and eGovernment Authority’s deployment of advanced technologies has simplified the field data collection process through the use of modern methods.

Dr. Ahmed Rajab, a tourism expert at the Information and e-Government Authority, talked about the non-traditional data sources used in collecting and producing tourism statistics, as well as the main criteria used in measuring inbound tourism. He highlighted some of the latest methods, including monitoring of administrative records, mobile phone, and bank cards. The Director of Monitoring and Licensing at the Ministry of Tourism, Sinan Al-Jabri, gave a presentation on the tourism data and the statistical requirements of the Ministry, where he stressed the importance of keeping pace with current trends related to monitoring tourism and adequate data and statistics. The need to deploy advanced technologies in formulating future tourism strategies that help decision makers, taking into account the importance of the tourism sector as one of the main promising sectors that will be major sectors in the national economy in line with the government’s announced strategy for tourism. for the coming years.

The workshop concluded with recommendations on how to improve tourism statistics in the Kingdom, most notably that non-traditional data sources, which are still being studied by many countries and international organizations, should complement existing sources, not replace them. The workshop recommended continuing cooperation between government agencies and benefiting from data sources through the establishment of an integrated tourism data system that is effective in serving tourism decision makers in the best possible way.

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