Bahrain is stepping up international tourism co-operation and promoting the Gulf as a unified destination as the kingdom takes part in Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 in Dubai.
Tourism Minister Fatima Al Sairafi highlighted the importance of closer government and private-sector co-operation to build a more resilient and competitive tourism industry during the event, which started yesterday and runs until Thursday at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Speaking during a high-level ministerial debate organised by UN Tourism, she said GCC integration offered a successful model for strengthening tourism resilience, traveller confidence and regional connectivity.
She noted that joint Gulf co-ordination had helped maintain travel flows and reinforce the region’s position as an integrated destination capable of adapting to regional and international developments.
The minister stressed that continued investment in infrastructure, innovation and human capital would be essential to sustaining growth, while joint promotion could further strengthen the GCC’s competitiveness on the global tourism map.
The debate, held under the theme ‘Building a Resilient Tourism Industry Through Collaboration’, brought together senior tourism officials and industry leaders, including UAE Economy and Tourism Minister Abdulla Al Marri and UN Tourism Secretary General Shaikha Al Nuwais.
Bahrain is showcasing its tourism offering through a 420-square-metre pavilion featuring 28 public and private sector entities, including the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, Gulf Air and Exhibition World Bahrain, alongside luxury hotels, resorts and destination management companies.
The pavilion is highlighting major tourism projects and initiatives, while bilateral meetings are being held with representatives from international markets to explore investment, co-operation and sustainable tourism opportunities.
The participation comes as Bahrain works to advance the objectives of its Tourism Strategy 2022-2026, with the kingdom seeking to attract more visitors and investment while strengthening its position on the regional and international tourism map.
On the sidelines of ATM, Ms Al Sairafi also met Mr Al Marri. They discussed ways to deepen tourism co-operation between Bahrain and the UAE and reviewed initiatives aimed at expanding the sector.
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