Manama: Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism, received Dr. Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), on the sidelines of the ICCA Middle East Summit, hosted by Bahrain. Minister Al Sairafi highlighted the significance of business tourism as a cornerstone of the Tourism Strategy 2022 - 2026, noting Bahrain's success in hosting major international events and conferences, which bolsters its status as a leading business tourism destination.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Minister Al Sairafi emphasized the importance of international coordination and cooperation with specialized institutions in developing the business tourism sector and enhancing its competitiveness on a regional and global scale. The discussions in the meeting also included exploring opportunities for cooperation in specialized training for Bahraini professionals in the exhibitions and conferences sector, and collaboration with professional bodies to attract major global events.
Sara Ahmed Buhiji, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) and Chairman of Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB), underscored that collaboration with international organizations in attracting and organizing major events significantly promotes Bahrain as a premier destination for exhibitions and conferences. She pointed out the strategic role of the EWB, whose modern facilities and high-quality services have consolidated Bahrain's status as a global destination and enhanced its capacity to attract significant international events.
Dr. Gopinath praised Bahrain's position in the business tourism sector and its advanced infrastructure and services. He expressed a keen interest in strengthening partnerships with the Ministry of Tourism and the BTEA to further advance the sector.