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Tourism

golf at a resort

Bahrain has become a popular tourist destination in the Gulf region. In 2000, some 4.8 million people visited, 70% from neighboring GCC States.3.9 million of those who visited Bahrain that year entered via the King Fahad Causeway that connects Bahrain to Saudi Arabia. Accessibility to GCC States, and particularly Saudi Arabia, fed the growth of tourism in Bahrain. In the near future, another causeway will join Bahrain and Qatar.

Visitors choose Bahrain for many reasons: ancient historical sites, recreational opportunities and a range of accommodation options, including seven five-star hotels and fourteen four-star hotels in Manama alone. A new resort hotel has opened on Hawar Island.

Tourist options range from the cultural to the recreational. Manama, the capital, is a vibrant, cosmopolitan center with shopping, cultural events, concerts, ballet and exhibitions. The city of Riffa boasts an 18-hole evergreen golf course with conference facilities that attract business executives and tourists alike. As with any sunny, island nation, water sports and activities abound. Scuba and pearl diving are popular choices.

With plans to rapidly expand its tourism industry, the country is in need of travel industry services and know-how, but also for construction and other support industries.

There are currently a number of projects in process or recently completed:

Durrat Al Bahrain

durrat al bahrain Durrat al-Bahrain Resort City, headed by Kuwait Finance House, is expected to be complete in 2009. It will be a self-contained tourist development, with a marina, golf course, aqua park, theme park, and exhibition center.

Amwaj Islands
Oasis Property Developers is investing one billion dollar to create The Riviera of the Middle East. Amwaj will be a string of man-made islands with five-star hotels, a zoo, commercial complexes, sports centers and apartment housing.

Bahrain Racing Circuit Expansion

race car Thanks to the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix held in April 2004, International companies are developing accommodations and entertainment projects ahead of next year’s race.

Bahrain Iceberg
The Bahrain Iceberg is a multi-million dollar resort with an indoor skiing and ice-sports to complement the Bahrain Racing Circuit. Hotels, from four-star family-oriented to deluxe, will cater to every taste.

Lulu Island Development
BD 280 million center with hotel, spa, marina, convention center, aquarium, apartment buildings and villas, is a business and leisure hub near the city center.

Al-Areen Desert Spa and Resort

little town depicting democracy Gulf Finance House is investing 600 million dollars in this oasis. Facilities will include a spa and hotel with residential areas and an aqua park. The project will complement the wildlife sanctuary, offering a safari-like experience.

Always a favorite among regional and international visitors, Bahrain is a destination for the whole family. The Ministry of Information diligently licensing projects to expand the tourism sector and increase tourists' length of stay. As such, investment opportunities abound.

The market for second homes in Bahrain is expected to increase, as well. Land reclamation and development will expand to meet this demand. The marked rise in shopping malls and complexes, international restaurant chains, theatres, and other entertainment activities will, likewise, provide opportunities. There are a number of unique opportunities for growth, too. Health tourism—fitness centers and spas—and business tourism for trade shows and exhibitions, are surprising areas for international investment.

A number of international tourism investors have already discovered Bahrain’s advantages. Specialized management service companies that invest in hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, real estate and tourism have discovered, and are enjoying, the fruits of Bahrain’s transparent legal system, a tax-free environment, and 100 percent foreign ownership of businesses.

Bahrain's advantages include:

A welcoming local population with a strong national identity
Cosmopolitan setting
Sunny climate year-round
Convenient access to 200 million people in the region
Historical attractions: the Barbar temples, the Aali burial mounds, the Bahrain fort, Arad fort, Beit al Jasra and Al Khamis mosque, the Tree of Life, a wildlife sanctuary, and Dilmun ruins.

Travel Links

For information on visa requirements and application go to Consular Division

Click on any of the following links for more information (for a list of Bahrain National Holidays please click here ).

General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Residence
http://www.immigration.gov.bh/

Bahrain Island of Golden Smiles
http://www.bahraintourism.com/