Investors behind Bahrain’s biggest family theme park have been urged to introduce new crowd-pulling, modern attractions to revitalise 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 that he was looking for specific details and a working programme to develop the Adhari Park.
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.
“I don’t mean to devalue the place as it witnessed good turnout during Eid Al Adha holidays. However, nothing substantial has been built or introduced there since its opening 16 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 an action plan for the 14 years remaining in the contract.”
Mr Tarradah called for clear strategies to be presented to the board on an annual basis.
“We want to see progress reports and new ideas that would take the park to the next level,” he said.
“That vision is vital towards how the monumental place could be promoted and marketed.”
Area MP Mahmood Fardan, who is also Parliament’s legislative and legal affairs committee vice-chairman, believes there is no time to waste in revamping 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 investors ... and there should be multiple ideas to select from.”
The park was constructed by Al Khaleej Development Company (Tameer) and Kuwaiti Markets and Commercial Complexes Company, which then formed a firm 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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