Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism Fatima Al Sayrafi said that the tourism sector currently accounts for 7% of the Kingdom’s total GDP.
“The World Tourism Index report published in January 2026 showed that Bahrain ranked third in the Middle East in visitor growth in 2025, with an 11% increase compared to 2024,” he told parliament, as reported by our sister publication Gulf Daily News.
“This reflects the tangible progress made through close collaboration between government agencies and private sector partners.”
She said that since the launch of the 2022 Tourism Strategy, 23 new four- and five-star hotels have been developed, a clear sign of investors’ confidence in the Bahrain market.
“Tourism in Bahrain is no longer just regional, but international,” Al Sayrafi said. “We partner with over 100 travel agencies and are targeting markets such as the GCC, China, the UK, India and Germany. Bahrain is promoting on its own, but we are also working as part of our joint ‘One City by the Gulf’ vision.”
He highlighted the growing momentum of business tourism, conferences and exhibitions, alongside festivals, coastal tourism, beaches, historical sites and diverse tourism products, especially at Exhibition World Bahrain.
Regarding tourist guides, Al Sayrafi said more than 70% of qualified guides are Bahraini and licenses for nationals will be issued free of charge.
“We are reviewing decisions to regulate this profession to further strengthen national competency priorities, while also taking into account the needs of some markets that require specialized languages and expertise,” she added.
Dr Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, said the development of aviation and tourism is “the basis for strengthening the national economy and creating quality jobs for the people”.
“Airports are the gateway to every country and aviation directly supports economic growth, global connectivity and jobs,” he said. “Bahrain’s aviation ecosystem is the oldest in the region, with a history of over 75 years, which has given us strong expertise despite intense regional competition.”
He announced the launch of the 2026-2030 National Aviation Strategy, built on four key pillars including the integrated development of airports, services, legal, supply chain and logistics, rather than airlines alone.
Dr Sheikh Abdullah confirmed that Bahrain, after intense regional competition, succeeded in attracting Asia’s largest low-cost airline AirAsia to establish a regional base in the Kingdom.
“AirAsia is the size of seven airlines combined and carries tens of millions of passengers. This gives Bahrain the advantage we need,” he said. “It is also expected that several aircraft will be registered in Bahrain in the coming years, which will increase air traffic, tourism and employment opportunities.”
He added that in parallel with efforts to attract e-commerce and transport companies, agreements have been signed with specialized companies in aircraft maintenance, logistics and air cargo, including the installation of advanced maintenance hangars.
Regarding maritime connectivity, Dr. Shaikh Abdullah said work is underway to develop maritime transport services to enhance cruise and maritime tourism and improve safety and passenger experience.
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