TOURISM projects worth BD136.1 million have been lined up as Bahrain gears up for economic recovery post Covid-19.
Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani told MPs that the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) will continue work on eight major projects that will boost Bahrain’s development over the next two years.
Revamp
They are: the BD83m Bahrain International Exhibitions and Conventions Centre, the BD2.5m Dive Bahrain, BD4.2m revamp of the Old Manama Suq, BD4m Bahrain Bay Coast, BD18.5m Galali Coastline, BD22.1m Al Ghous Avenue Coastline, BD1.3m Vatel Bahrain-International Hospitality School and the BD500,000 Amphibious Duck Bus.
While the Bay Coast and Duck Bus are expected to be completed this year and the Bahrain Bay project in 2023, other projects are set to be completed by 2022.
“We are ready with eight major tourism projects estimated to cost BD136.1m. We believe they will revive the tourism sector as we recover from the pandemic,” Mr Alzayani, who is also BTEA chairman, said in response to a question by MP Khalid Bu Onk.
Normal
“BTEA has decided to continue with all existing projects and start new ones when life returns to normal after the pandemic.”
Mr Alzayani outlined the steep fall in tourism revenues owing to the pandemic last year.
“In 2019, before the outbreak of Covid-19, we had 11,061 visitors to Bahrain who spent a total of BD1.5 billion.
“But revenues from tourism fees fell sharply last year to BD7.1m from BD22.9m in 2019.”
He said that hotel fees were BTEA’s biggest revenues before the pandemic struck.
“As VAT was introduced in 2019, we lowered tourism fees but our revenues were still BD14m, which was higher than our projection for that year by BD3m,” said Mr Alzayani.
“Following the Covid-19 outbreak, we exempted tourism facilities from paying fees and our revenues dropped by BD15m.
“We exempted tenants at the Bab Al Bahrain Complex from paying rents worth BD66,700 in the period from April to June last year.
“In collaboration with Tamkeen, financial support of BD30,600 was paid to tour guides for nine months.”
Mr Alzayani said BTEA funds reached BD57m until last month, from BD9.9m when it launched in 2015. He said total assets were also worth BD5.9m.
Meanwhile, Mr Alzayani responded to a question by MP Bassem Al Malki on support given to businesses hit by the pandemic.
“Affected businesses were exempted from paying commercial registration (CR) fees, totalling BD492,550 last year.
“A total of 6,347 businesses benefited from waiver of CR renewal fees – with the amount totalling BD317,350.
Exemption
“Exemption of fees for certain business activities benefited 1,752 firms – with the amount totalling BD175,200.
“Rent of around BD4.4m on industrial plots was not collected.”
He added that fees taken for patent certification until March 24 this year was BD42,797 – a huge drop from BD187,019 collected last year.
Mr Alzayani said in a written response to Parliament Speaker Fouzia Zainal that new rules and specifications for importing electric cars would be imposed in Bahrain on July 29.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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