Manama jewellers have pledged to stump up BD100,000 ($265, 000) towards a campaign to woo tourists back to Bahrain.

The programme includes a major shopping festival that has been given the working title 'Bahrain on Sale', which is intended to attract travellers throughout July with massive discounts.

Jewellery traders hope tourism chiefs will match their pledge, which was agreed during a meeting at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) yesterday.

They also discussed plans to offer massive discounts on gold, as well as free giveaways to shoppers.

'We have thrown our weight behind the festival, which is planned to get Bahrain's business back on track,' BCCI gold and pearl jewellery committee chairman Mohammed Sajid Shaikh told the GDN after the meeting.

'This is a huge opportunity that we have to grab. Bahrain's business has suffered immensely and we have to bring it back.

'The steps the government has taken in the last few weeks have been praiseworthy and we are pleased we have a sense of security back.'

However, he said there was still a lot to be done and revealed a committee had been formed to map out the jewellery sector's involvement in the July festival.

'We are planning to hold raffle draws, 50 per cent gold promotions, car draws and gift giveaway to shoppers who come to us,' added Shaikh.

Our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN) reported yesterday that Bahrain had launched a major drive to win back tourists, including massive reductions on hotel rates and airfares.

The plan includes major sales in some of the country's most popular shopping areas, as well as shows by international performers.

It is the brainchild of a new think-tank formed last week by the BCCI to come up with ideas to revitalise Bahrain's economy, which has been hit hard by unrest since February.-TradeArabia News Service