Tourism, Bahrain’s economic spearhead?

Bahrain hopes to make 2022 the pivotal year in which the country establishes itself in the competitive Gulf vacation market. The promotion of luxury properties and idyllic beachfront living will be the lure for tourists seeking cultural discoveries.

Three new infrastructure projects are set to carry the country’s development plan:

1. Bahrain’s new international Exhibition Centre

The inauguration of the new Bahrain Exhibition Centre is set to be a game changer for the country. As one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Middle East, the space is expected to accommodate more events, festivals and conferences.

2. Bahrain Bay development

Bahrain is also planning to build five new cities on newly constructed islands. These will increase the total area of Bahrain by over 60%. Fasht Al Jarim, the largest of the planned cities, will cover 183 square kilometers and is expected to provide a base for housing, tourism and logistics. This will give the country the opportunity to develop many activities on the Corniche.

3. Transport networking

Bahrain’s metro is planned to run for about 110 kilometers and connect all the major activity centers in the country through 20 stations. It will mainly connect Bahrain International Airport, the residential and commercial area of Seef and the diplomatic area.

 

 

As for the airport, Bahrain is working closely with Gulf Air to attract tourists through incentive packages and travel offers.

”Anyone who comes here every few months will see something new. We are a unique island destination in the Middle East and that’s what makes us attractive.”

These built infrastructures, what to see in Bahrain?

Culture and heritage are the secret weapon that Bahrain hopes will attract a new generation of visitors to the region. The country is home to three UNESCO-recognized heritage sites that visitors should be keen to see:

1. Dilmun Burial Mounds

The burial mounds are the imprint of a land of ancient civilizations. The site illustrates an ancestral tradition of burial in a country that believes in eternal youth. This vast space gathers 12 000 tombs in the shape of domes.

 

2. Pearling Path

Bahrain’s history is closely linked to pearl diving. This heritage is to be highlighted through the renovation of a lighted path through the former capital of Muharraq Island. The path, which will extend for 3.5 km, will start from the coast where trading ships and pearl divers once docked, before passing through the homes of the workers of this economy.

 

 

3. Qal’at Al Bahrain, ancient port, fort and capital of Dilmun.

This ancient fort was founded on a typical tell, that is to say an artificial hill created by several successive layers of human occupation. It is a place not to be missed in Bahrain and it attests to a constant human presence since about 2300 BC.