Manama: People will soon be able to reserve a place to pitch their tent through a new mobile phone app, which was unveiled yesterday ahead of the winter camping season. Thousands of Bahrainis flock to Sakhir every year to go camping, taking advantage of the cooler weather. Tents will be pitched on a site measuring 50sqkm when the season officially opens on October 22 – and a dedicated app is being piloted this year for the first time.
“A new phone app will be introduced for the first time this year, on a trial period, until we launch it fully next year after assessment and update,” Southern Governor Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa told a Press conference at the governorate yesterday.
Reservation
He said that when it is fully operational, people would also be able to reserve a space and pay fees through the app. “Families will be able to select their locations, agree on terms and pay electronically,” he said. “Now the app will just provide some services and, as the season progresses, it will be enhanced and improved.”
Camping season will continue until March 5 and anyone who wants to erect a tent in Sakhir must select their location on a map, sign the terms of agreement, pay a
deposit and get a camping sticker. People can start registering their chosen locations from Thursday through the Southern Governorate’s website or by visiting either the governorate’s headquarters in Awali or the Campers’ Services Centre in Sakhir.
An award for the best camp, sponsored by His Majesty’s personal representative for charity and youth affairs Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, will also be presented. This year’s camping season, taking place under the slogan Your Safety is Your Own Responsibility, will be jointly overseen by the Southern Municipality, the National Guard and the Southern Governorate.
Families will, for the first time, be restricted to a maximum of two locations to pitch tents. “All campers have to abide to security, decency, and protect wildlife and the environment at the camping location and co-operate with all officials present at the site to ensure that the area remains a safe location for all,” said Shaikh Abdulla.
“We have taken action over the years against violators and this year will be no different, as police will be there round the clock.”
He revealed that a new location south of the Tree of Life had been made available for camping to meet demand. “We have co-ordinated with Tatweer Petroleum, which owns the property where the camping area will be located, and they have given us the new location, rather than the cluster in the northern part,” he said. “A location in the camping area will be closed for a few days as we work closely with organisers of the Bahrain International Airshow early next year to secure locations and over safety concerns.”
Campers’ Services Centre president and governorate investment services head Mohammed Al Sisi said preparations had been underway since August. “We have in two months improved the registration procedures, came up with new camping areas instead of those closed by Tatweer Petroleum in collaboration with its management, and reviewed safety, security and traffic,” he said.
“This leaves us with available space of between 48 and 50sqkm, with each camp being a maximum 900sqm and families restricted to only two locations that have to be separated by at least 10 metres.
Paving
“Dirt roads have been paved for easy movement within the area.”
Southern Municipality director-general Assem Abdullatif said four teams would be present at the site, each with a different task, in association with Sphinx Cleaning Company.
“We already have representatives at the campers’ centre for anyone seeking services or support and last year we moved 3,840 tonnes of garbage during the season for burial in Hafeera (landfill), using 30 labourers from the cleaning company,” he said.
“When the season was over we managed to remove another 7,140 tonnes in two months.
“Three clean-up campaigns will be held throughout the season.”
Zallaq Police Station head Brigadier Isa Al Dossary
said complaints dropped last season compared to the previous year. “By the end of the 2014-2015 season we had just 44 cases, down from 130 in the 2013-2014 season, ranging from robbery, disturbances, traffic accidents, fires, missing individuals and rescue,” he said.
“We will have more security during the air show and New Year.”
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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