Shop till you drop, step out to enjoy a show and then sleep comfortably wrapped up in a warm blanket of Bahraini hospitality ... what more could a visitor want?
Developing joint tourism packages that include shopping, entertainment and accommodation to attract tourists during the summer season through growing partnerships between hotels were part of initiatives discussed during a top-level meeting.
Tourism Minister Fatima Al Sairafi, along with representatives of Bahrain’s hotel sector, attended the event aimed at strengthening partnership with the hotel sector and following up on preparations for upcoming tourism seasons and events.
The minister affirmed that Bahrain’s tourism infrastructure, together with the services and diverse hospitality experiences offered by hotels and resorts, contributes to enhancing the kingdom’s appeal and attracting more visitors seeking high-quality hospitality experiences and a variety of accommodation options.
“The meeting discussed proposals aimed at developing joint tourism packages during the summer season through partnerships between hotels and various stakeholders in the tourism sector, with the goal of offering integrated packages that meet the expectations of the Gulf market and enhance the visitor experience,” said a statement yesterday by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA).
“The proposals include co-ordination with shopping malls, event management companies and tourism establishments to launch specialised offers combining accommodation, entertainment activities, shopping and a range of tourism experiences, further strengthening the kingdom’s competitiveness as a preferred tourism destination for Gulf families and keeping pace with visitors’ expectations during the summer season.”
Ms Al Sairafi noted that the diversity of hotel offerings helps meet the expectations of different visitor segments and supports Bahrain’s position as a tourism destination capable of providing accommodation experiences that cater to a wide range of needs and aspirations.
She added that the partnership with the hotel sector represents a key pillar in supporting tourism growth and achieving the objectives of the Tourism Sector Strategy 2022-2026.
The minister emphasised the importance of continuing co-ordination and integration among all relevant stakeholders to deliver a comprehensive tourism experience that reflects the kingdom’s standing as a preferred destination for visits and accommodation.
Participants also reviewed the ‘Walahna Alaikum’ campaign and the summer promotional campaign aimed at attracting visitors from fellow GCC countries, in addition to the key events and programmes included in the tourism calendar for the coming period.
The GDN reported last month 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.
Overall, more than 33m travellers crossed the border point in 2025, representing a 1.6pc increase compared with the previous year.
Between 2024 and 2026, 16 hotels will be established in Bahrain, as reported in the GDN. This expansion will add more than 3,000 new hotel rooms, further strengthening Bahrain’s position as a leading regional tourism hub.
This year, 12 new hotels are expected to open and these expansions are expected to bolster the tourism, hospitality, and hotel sectors, increase tourism revenues, create new job opportunities in hospitality and support small and medium enterprises through partnerships with local suppliers and contractors.
These projects will also improve Bahrain’s tourism infrastructure, services and facilities to meet rising visitor demand, particularly in alignment with Bahrain’s hosting of major international events and conferences.
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