Ambitious plans to further revive the fortunes of the Manama Suq has been unveiled at a top level meeting of development committee members and tourism executives.
Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BETA) CEO Dr Nasser Qaedi highlighted several initiatives that are set to be put into action, including plans to host a Bahrain Design Week and request tenders for the renovation of historic cafes and public spaces.
He emphasised the authority’s intention to complete a sizable percentage of this development process before the start of next winter when the Manama market experiences an increase in visitors.
“BTEA is keen to continue conducting several events in the Manama market, building on the success of the authority’s recent market events, including Bab Al Bahrain Fashion Show and the Manama Gold Festival, which featured more than 150 stores and generated sales of more than BD1m, among other events,” he said.
Manama Suq Development Committee members discussed the revival plans during a meeting held by BTEA.
The meeting showcased diverse efforts to revive the market’s tourism attractiveness, heritage, commercial and social status as one of the region’s most significant markets.
Dr Qaedi stressed that the authority intends to implement the overall development of the Manama Suq through a collaboration with the committee’s members and other relevant public or private organisations.
Despite all the challenges in planning and implementation, he praised the committee members’ ‘willingness to support’ the efforts in the revival process.
Dr Qaedi noted the success of the Manama Suq Tours programme as well as the high turnout from tourists and visitors to participate in them, stressing the authority’s ambition to increase the number of tours and expand their itinerary to include more heritage landmarks and recreational activities.
In the meeting, Fouad Al Shukr also discussed the potential for expanding the successful events held by BTEA in the market to include additional locations within it, such as the old municipal square and Tawaweesh Square, to spread the benefits of these events to the market’s largest possible geographic and commercial area.
And, Ghada Mohammed Al Sayed, commended the creative events like Bahrain Design Week, appreciating the range of events hosted by BTEA in the Manama market, highlighting the need to involve even more Bahraini art activities and artists.
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Ibrahim Daoud Nuno said that the market development project preserves the ‘unique architectural heritage and showcases its religious and commercial features, which have witnessed fraternity and coexistence in Bahrain since ancient times’.
He added that as work progresses, more tourists and visitors will come to the market, which will benefit not only traders but also Bahrain as a whole.
The MSDC comprises representatives from the Works Ministry, Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Urban Planning and Development Authority, Economic Development Board, the Capital Governorate, and the Capital Municipal Council, as well as several Manama Suq traders.
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