ROOM occupancy in hotels and serviced apartments has dramatically surged with a large influx of tourists, mainly from neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
Four-star hotels and serviced apartments across the country have registered a nearly 100 per cent occupancy rate, while five-star hotels are expected to be over 90pc occupied.
This was revealed yesterday by Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) hospitality and tourism committee member Hameed Al Halwachi, who told the GDN that the overall tourism revenue was expected to increase manifold compared to previous seasons, with school holidays in Saudi Arabia lasting until Tuesday that coincided with Bahrain’s National Day holiday and New Year festivities.
The King Fahad Causeway also recorded the second largest number of passengers entering Bahrain in its history over the weekend.
A total of 117,079 people crossed the causeway on Saturday – only 14 passengers less than the all-time record of 117, 093 on June 18 during the Eid Al Fitr holiday.
“From last week until January 2 and 3, almost all four-star hotels and serviced apartments in the country are fully booked,” said Mr Al Halwachi.
Celebrations
“This will obviously reflect in the five-star hotels as well, which will definitely not be below 90pc occupancy rate.
“The crowd is mainly families from the GCC, especially from Saudi Arabia with a good number of them from Riyadh, which has increased the occupancy rate.
“They are here to celebrate the seasonal holiday and the New Year and the main factor that added to this increase in occupancy is the two-week-long spring holidays for schools in Saudi Arabia clubbing with our extended National Day celebrations and the Christmas and New Year holiday season.”
He added that tourism projects and activities planned to coincide with regional holidays were paying off, which he said would also reflect in revenues from shopping malls and cinemas as well.
One of the major attractions is the fifth edition of the Bahrain Shopping Festival – Shop Bahrain – scheduled to begin tomorrow.
A total of 32 hotels and 24 shopping malls across the country are taking part in Bahrain’s largest shopping festival, which will run until February 2 and will also feature a unique line-up of activities including live performances and a ‘Festival City’.
“In the past, the question was what to do in Bahrain but now with the number of tourism activities and expos, the country is emerging as a chosen holiday destination in the region,” said Mr Al Halwachi.
“We have always had high hotel occupancy rates during festive seasons like Eid and the Formula One, which is limited to three to four days.
“However, now it’s a long stretch which definitely means longer stay in hotels and the increased crowd at malls, parks and the cinemas will reflect on the revenue as well.
“I do not want to comment on the percentage of the increase in the revenue but it will be many times more than the previous years.
“The lesson that we learn from this is that we should not only focus on the occupancy rate, but should ensure that the crowds return and for that we need to come up with tourist attractions, be it the government or the private sector.”
Meanwhile, in a statement issued by the King Fahad Causeway Authority yesterday, it was revealed that the number of passengers who crossed the causeway on Saturday reached 117,079 while on Thursday it was 101,460 passengers.
“The huge surge in passengers pushed the authorities in Bahrain to allow the entry of Saudi citizens without routine border procedures on the occasion of the spring school holidays,” said King Fahad Causeway passport control director Colonel Dhuwaihi Al Sahli in the statement.
The King Fahad Causeway Authority announced on Friday that Saudis would be allowed to enter Bahrain without the usual registration following long queues and massive tailbacks at the causeway on Thursday.
The authority said the influx of Saudis would last the whole week, adding that all causeway directorates would work round the clock.
Pictures of the long queues were circulated on social media over the weekend, with one person, who drove from Khobar, saying he was stuck in traffic for four hours.
Extra lanes on the causeway were also opened to accommodate the large number of motorists with authorities putting in place streamlined measures to cut waiting time.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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