A special public bus tour of prominent historical and cultural landmarks in Bahrain will be held on Saturday to mark World Tourism Day.
The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) announced yesterday that the special tour starting at 3pm will be held under the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”.
The tour is organised in co-operation with the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca), and the National Plan to Promote the Spirit of Belonging to the Nation and Reinforce the Values of Citizenship (Bahrainouna).
The tour will start at the Bahrain National Museum and include visits to Bab Al Bahrain and the newly-opened Kanoo Museum, offering participants the opportunity to explore the heritage of Manama.
It will also feature a stop at the Al Jasra Handicrafts Centre to discover the creativity of Bahraini artisans, said the BTEA in a statement.
The programme will conclude with a tour of the Bahrain National Museum galleries, showcasing the kingdom’s rich history and cultural identity.
“The initiative represents the first joint tourism activity designed to promote sustainable tourism by using modern public transport buses as the main means of travel,” said the statement.
“This step highlights the role of Bahrain’s public transportation network as a practical option to reduce carbon emissions and enhance environmental awareness, while offering visitors an authentic cultural experience that combines heritage and sustainability.”
A group of Bahraini tourist guides will accompany participants to provide in-depth information on the historical and cultural sites.
Participation in the free tour requires prior registration through Platinumlist platform (www.platinumlist.net).
Registration will close once all seats are filled.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has designated September 27 as World Tourism Day to underscore the importance of tourism as a tool for sustainable development and promoting closer ties among peoples.
Bahrain’s celebration of the day comes within the framework of the Tourism Sector Strategy 2022-2026 and in line with the goals of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
World Tourism Day has been held on September 27 each year since 1980.
The date marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of the Organisation in 1970, paving the way for the establishment of UN Tourism five years later.
According to UN Tourism, almost 690 million tourists travelled internationally between January and June 2025, about 33m more than in the same period of 2024, though results were mixed among regions and subregions.
The Middle East recorded four per cent fewer arrivals during the six-month period, though after a very strong post-pandemic rebound, with 29pc more arrivals than the same period of 2019.
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