During his ongoing business trip to the Republic of China, Mr. Ali Amralla, the CEO of “Visit Bahrain,” a leading destination management company based in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has been actively engaging in meetings with Chinese tourism companies. The primary focus of these discussions is to enhance efforts in attracting more tourists from the Republic of China to visit the Kingdom of Bahrain.
This strategic initiative aligns with the growing prominence of the Chinese market, recognized as one of the world’s foremost markets for exporting tourists, with an annual influx of approximately 157 million visitors. Notably, these meetings follow the recent establishment of two tourist offices by “Visit Bahrain” in the cities of Shanghai and Guangzhou, China, along with the appointment of directors for these offices, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion into the East.
Mr. Amralla stated that the discussions with Chinese tourism companies involved key figures from various sectors including hotel management, resorts, tour operators, events, travel offices, and more. These meetings led to the agreement to establish several partnerships aimed at attracting groups of Chinese tourists to Bahrain through dedicated tourism programs. These programs encompass a range of services such as providing tour guides, increasing awareness of Bahraini tourist destinations, presenting special travel offers and packages, and coordinating transportation, accommodation, tourism itineraries, and recreational activities.
Mr. Amralla emphasized that these meetings are strategically focused on introducing Bahrain’s diverse tourist destinations, highlighting high-level attractions, and showcasing the kingdom’s annual entertainment, family-oriented, and sports events. This includes renowned events such as the Formula 1 race, the Air Show, Manama Souq, among others. The emphasis is also on presenting Bahrain’s distinctive adventure, entertainment, tourism, and shopping experiences to the Chinese audience.
Mr. Amralla highlighted the commendable efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority in expanding foreign tourism markets. He specifically acknowledged the recent announcement by the Ministry and the Authority to forge new ties with the Chinese market, coinciding with the commencement of direct flights between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the cities of Shanghai and Guangzhou in China starting from January 2024. In this context, he emphasized “Visit Bahrain’s” unwavering commitment to respond effectively and productively to the directives of the Ministry of Tourism and the Bahrain Tourism Authority, particularly in activating the role of tourism establishments to enhance tourist attractions and contribute to achieving the ambitious goals outlined in Bahrain’s Tourism Strategy 2022-2026.
It is noteworthy that “Visit Bahrain” has achieved success over the past two years in attracting a substantial number of tourists from various European markets, including Germany and the Czech Republic. The company has established representative offices in key European countries such as Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. Furthermore, “Visit Bahrain” recently expanded its global presence by opening a representative office in Mumbai, India.
