Manama: Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism, chaired the board meeting of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA). The meeting was attended by Sara Ahmed Buhiji, Chief Executive of the BTEA.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the meeting reviewed key performance indicators for the tourism sector in the first quarter of 2025, as well as progress made in implementing the 2022-2026 tourism strategy. The strategy aims to increase tourism's contribution to GDP, position the Kingdom of Bahrain as a global tourism hub, expand the number of target markets, and diversify tourism offerings.
The board also reviewed marketing plans for five key markets: the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, India, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the People's Republic of China. It also discussed incentive programmes for travel agents aimed at supporting the tourism sector and increasing visitor numbers.
Updates were presented on the tourism season linked to the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, the 2024-2025 cruise season, and the BTEA's efforts to enhance the visitor experience. Developments related to Exhibition World Bahrain and completed tourism projects, including the Sama Bahrain project, were also reviewed, along with ongoing and planned development initiatives.
The meeting included a detailed presentation on key events scheduled for this year and preparations for wedding events set to take place in the Kingdom in 2025 and 2026.