Manama, October 3 (BNA) Tourism Minister Fatima bint Jaafar Al-Sirafi received a delegation of US Congress employees on a visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Al-Serafy highlighted the long-standing relations between Bahrain and the United States and the expanding cooperation in the tourism sector.
She noted the importance of strengthening bilateral tourism cooperation, which will enhance economic, commercial, social and cultural relations.
Al-Serafy stressed Bahrain’s efforts to support international efforts to develop the tourism industry globally. These efforts are also helping the tourism sector recover in the wake of the pandemic, she added.
Dr. Nasser Qaidi, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, gave a brief presentation on some of the highlights of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s tourism strategy (2022-2026).
This strategy arose as part of the economic recovery plan announced by the government at the end of 2021.
Dr. Qaidi reviewed several major tourism infrastructure projects underway, especially the “Bahrain World Exhibition”, one of the most modern exhibition centers in the Middle East, which includes 10 halls and a large conference hall.
Bahrain World Expo is expected to stimulate more companies and industries holding conferences and exhibitions in the region.
Kaidi said the tourism sector’s recovery rate has reached 82% compared to the pre-pandemic period.
He referred to the quarterly economic report for the second quarter of 2022, which indicated that the hotel and restaurant sector continued to record the highest growth rates for the non-oil sectors in the Kingdom, achieving an annual growth of 18.1% while maintaining fixed prices.
The CEO of the Bahrain Tourism Authority stressed that Bahrain has intensified its efforts to reach the main markets for tourists around the world and has succeeded in building important partnerships with 76 international tour operators.