In recognition of their combined efforts in 2019 and success in driving tourists to Bahrain, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) hosted an award ceremony for tour operators from Saudi Arabia at The Ritz Carlton on February 8.

 

Held in the presence of the chief executive officer of BTEA, Nader Al Moayyed, along with representatives from the BTEA, the award ceremony also witnessed the attendance of Saudi tour operators and representatives from hotels and destination management companies in Bahrain. During the ceremony, a total of eight Saudi tour operators were presented awards, including Al Faris International Travel and Tourism, Al Ahram Travel & Tourism, Attar Travels, Flyin, Fursan Travel, Seera, Traveler Club, Holiday Me and Expedia Group.

 

“I would like to emphasise the BTEA’s efforts in strengthening the Bahrain’s position on the tourism map, the strong partnerships we have established with tour operators, travel agencies and various national airlines in collaboration with our representative offices around the world forms a significant part of these efforts. We will continue to work on our strategy at the BTEA, which focuses on developing the Tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (Mice) sector of Bahrain as well as contributing to diversifying the non-oil based sectors of the national economy, in light of the directives of our wise leadership and in line with the 2030 Economic Vision,” said Al Moayyed.

 

“The Saudi market shapes a significant majority of the total inbound tourism coming into Bahrain. We have been able to work closely with various Saudi tour operators and travel agents, which we will continue to work closely with, in order to increase the number of travellers coming to Bahrain. The number of travellers coming to the kingdom through purchasing travel packages provided by tour operators and travel agents in Saudi Arabia reached more than 120,000 visitors in 2018, and increased to more than 150,000 visitors in 2019,” he added.

 

“I would like to thank the Saudi tour operators along with the hotels and destination management companies in Bahrain for their continuous efforts in promoting Bahrain. We hope to take Bahrain to even greater heights and look forward to achieving additional success stories in 2020 as we continue to support and work closely with our representative offices across the world,” he said.

 

The travel packages - sold by Saudi tour operators - witnessed an increase of 25 per cent in the year 2019 in comparison to 2018, which comes as a result of the BTEA’s collaboration with its Saudi representative office, along with accredited tour operators and travel agencies which provide tailor-made travel packages in order to attract more Saudi tourists to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

 

The BTEA’s long-term strategy focuses on developing and strengthening the tourism sector under the slogan ‘Ours. Yours’, which contributes towards the kingdom’s economy and achieving the Economic Vision 2030. - TradeArabia News Service