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Eid visitors have given a much-needed boost to the hospitality industry in Bahrain battered in recent months by Iranian aggression. Thankfully, Bahrain’s tourism sector recorded strong growth during the recent extended holidays, said a top minister.
Tourism Minister Fatima Al Sairafi said the sector witnessed good growth since the launch of the ‘We Miss You’ campaign and the resumption of tourism and entertainment activities, driving an increase in visitor arrivals from GCC countries throughout Eid Al Adha.
“Bahrain is fully prepared for the summer season amid rising demand from local and GCC visitors, supported by a wide range of tourism and leisure experiences and promotional packages launched in co-operation with travel agencies across the Gulf,” added Ms Al Sairafi.
She attributed the sector’s positive performance to close public-private sector collaboration, which has helped enhance visitor experiences, improve tourism products and services, and attractive events and investments that support growth and competitiveness.
The minister noted that Bahrain’s advanced tourism infrastructure, accessibility and year-round programme of cultural, entertainment and sporting events continue to strengthen its appeal as a ‘preferred family destination’ and support the goals of the Tourism Strategy 2022-2026, including increasing the sector’s contribution to the national economy.
The GDN reported last week that hotels across Bahrain witnessed a strong surge in demand this Eid season, driven by a notable rise in bookings from families travelling from across the GCC.
Hospitality officials had said they were encouraged by the steady return of business and travel activity to near-normal levels, with properties rolling out an array of Eid staycation packages, curated culinary experiences and lifestyle offerings designed to create a more immersive and memorable holiday for guests.
The kingdom received 15 million visitors in 2025, reflecting the success of Bahrain’s integrated tourism offering.
Bahrain’s main tourism artery is the King Fahad Causeway, with the number of Saudi and Gulf visitors increasing over the years. Despite the challenging period due to the regional conflict conditions, there was a noticeable increase in the number of travellers crossing the border point, which rose from 833,000 visitors in March this year to nearly 1.5m travellers in April, marking an 80 per cent increase compared with March.
Overall, more than 33m travellers crossed the border point in 2025, representing a 1.6pc increase compared with the previous year.
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