Investors behind Bahrain’s biggest family theme park have been urged to introduce new crowd-pulling, modern attractions to help freshen up the facility.
The Capital Trustees Authority has asked the Adhari Park Development Company to present a revival strategy as part of its long-term contract which started in 2008 and runs until 2038.
Authority director-general Mohammed Al Sehli told the GDN he was looking for specific details and a working programme of park development during the lifetime of the current Capital Trustees Board, which was sworn in for a four-year term yesterday.
The BD15 million park has suffered setbacks since it opened with much fanfare as part of plans to revive the area. For example, payments of BD822,000 were not made between 2010 and 2017 before an out-of-court settlement was reached.
“This is the oldest and most famous park in Bahrain, if not the whole region, and it should be ‘off the chart’ with amazing, innovative and attractive facilities and rides,” believes Mr Al Sehli.
“The only way to reflect the value of the location would be to come up with a workable plan of action,” he added. “We have asked the investors behind the theme park to present us with new ideas on how to elevate it in the public’s perception.
“Any decision over the options suggested would need approval.”
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah believes the current offering could hardly be described as ‘a huge attraction’ for either local visitors or tourists arriving from abroad.
“Not to devalue the place, nothing substantial has been built or introduced there since its opening 14 years ago,” he claimed. “People – tourists and visitors – want something new to entice them and that’s not happening.
“Now is the time to come up with a new action plan for the contract’s remaining 16 years.”
Area MP Mahmood Fardan believes there is no time to waste in revitalising the attraction. “Delaying any action will only result in fewer people being interested in it and eventually the place will become deserted,” he suggested.
“Ideally, agreement has to be reached by the board and myself on options presented by the investors ... and there should be multiples ideas to select from.
“In all cases, there must be a commitment to ensure safety and maintenance of all the facilities to offer the necessary assurances to parents and schoolchildren to go there, not just on field trips, but also regularly during weekends and public holidays.”
The park was constructed by Al Khaleej Development Company (Tameer) and Kuwaiti Markets and Commercial Complexes Company, which then formed a company with three other partners.
Part of the historic park was reopened to the public in September 2003, after the ancient spring and surrounding areas were renovated and a mosque was built at a cost of BD600,000.
The original project was initiated by His Majesty King Hamad and overseen by the Capital Trustees Board and the Capital Trustees Authority.
Ain Adhari (the natural spring) area has been mentioned in traditional folklore as an attraction for more than 800 years and some historians believe it dates back even further.
Officials from the Adhari Park Development Company were unavailable for the comment yesterday.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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