Bahrain welcomed a total of 12.7 million tourists in 2017, a remarkable increase in comparison to the previous year.

The kingdom also witnessed an 11.85 per cent increase in the number of tourists accessing the kingdom through the Bahrain International Airport, an 11.87 per cent jump in visitors through King Fahad Causeway and  23.2 per cent coming in through Khalifa bin Salman Port.

Looking to further enhance the Bahrain's position as a leading tourist and business destination, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) explored different projects to further boost tourism during its first board meeting for the year.

Headed by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and chairman of the BTEA, Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, the board discussed the latest developments projects aimed at enhancing the kingdom's position as a leading destination for hosting exhibitions, conferences and incentives in the region.

One of BTEA’s plans includes the development of the Manama Souq project, which entails the opening of a number of cafes and restaurants as well as various facilities and services. This will result in revitalising the souq and reviving the economic and commercial sector. The board also announced that it will be launching amphibious tours to facilitate the movement of visitors in the kingdom.

During the meeting, the board also expressed their satisfaction with the positive results of the 2017 financial report as well as expressed their gratitude to the management and employees of BTEA for their sincere efforts in achieving the authority’s plans in order to position the tourism and exhibitions sector as a main contributor to the national economy. - TradeArabia News Service