Vision/Mission
Mission:
To develop an innovative, competitive, and sustainable tourism industry, meeting visitor expectations, respecting community values, enriching cultural heritage, supporting business needs whilst contributing effectively to the socio-economic development of the kingdom of Bahrain.
Vision:
Arabia’s boutique destination, celebrating rich cultural heritage within a thriving business environment and a vibrant contemporary lifestyle.
Interpretation:
Boutique: small in number, high quality, innovative and unique
Arabia: gateway to GCC, embracing and representing its culture and lifestyle
Delivering unique experience
Organization Description
Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA)’s scope of work includes all sectors related to national tourism affairs in the Kingdom: organize conventions and trade exhibitions in the Kingdom of Bahrain; attract international, regional and local conferences to be hosted in the Kingdom; establish, manage, promote and maintain the Authority’s conventions and exhibitions centres directly or through specialized companies or firms BTEA establishes solely or in partnership with others for the same purpose; grant licenses for conventions and trade exhibitions, supervise and assess them.
Background
Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority was established in 2015 under the Royal Decree number (76) for the year 2015 issued by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain. Whereas the first clause of the Decree number (10) stated that an authority should be established under the supervision of the Council of Ministers
In 2015, BTEA started its operations under the Decree number (9) for the year 2015 to append the Tourism Affairs to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce based on the recommendation of HRH Prime Minister and under the law number (62) of the year 2016 to establish and regulate the Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority (BECA) and the Decree number (1) for the year 1985 to establish a Supreme Council for Tourism, and the law number (15) for the year 1986 to regulate the Tourism sector amended by a Law by Decree number (12) for the year 1994.
Services
Regulation and organization of hotels and hotel apartments in Bahrain, and also licensing of exhibitions that are being held in Bahrain and the reservation of halls at the Bahrain Exhibition Centre.
Areas
Tourism, Exhibitions and Handicrafts.
Location
Organization Goals & Objectives
Our task is to increase the number of inward tourist arrivals into Bahrain, and to encourage these visitors to stay longer and to spend more. At the same time, it is critical that investment in Bahrain's tourism industry increases. Primarily the Kingdom needs to attract larger flows of foreign direct investment (FDI). But it's also important to encourage local investment and to raise the profile and relevance of the country to increase airlift and visitor numbers through growing areas such as the cruise market and in business tourism, including the MICE sector.
These objectives must be achieved within an over-arching strategy focused on immediate results, but one that also lays the foundations for future activity across an increasing number of countries, market segments and audiences.
Leaders
H.E. Shaikh Khalid bin Humood Al Khalifa – CEO of BTEA.
Staff/Members
Directorate of Marketing and Promotion – Tourism
The Directorate of Tourism Marketing and Promotion manages Tourism affairs and the marketing and promotion of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the different regional and international forums with the aim to revive the Tourism industry in the Kingdom and attract foreign investments. As part of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Tourism strategy, the Directorate of Tourism Marketing and Promotion organizes various events, festivals and tourism activities to increase the contribution of the sector in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and position Tourism as an important source of income that contributes in greasing the wheels of the economy in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Directorate of Marketing and Promotion - Exhibitions and Conventions
The Directorate of Marketing and Promotion - Exhibitions and Conventions focuses on attracting international exhibitions and conventions, developing the exhibitions industry, encourage local and international traders to host, organize and partake in local and international exhibitions and conventions through the collaboration with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Directorate of Facilities and Services
The Directorate of Facilities and Services provides services to the investors in the Tourism sector, works on eliminating challenges facing investors in the Bahraini Tourism industry and increases the quality of the Bahraini Tourism product.
Directorate of Handicrafts
Handicrafts and Artisanal products are considered the fruit of the cultural interaction between the local communities, their civilization’s visions and values and natural habitat from one side and their interaction with other communities from the other side. Furthermore, Handicrafts and Artisanal products are one facet of civilization, a medium to reflect the community’s culture and authenticity and a true component of the civilization’s history that represents the different stages of their life and its various aspects.
Highlights
His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, The Prime Minister, inaugurated Bahrain’s first purpose-built, 8,000 square metre (m2), pillar-free exhibition facility on 2nd November 1991 with a trade fair called, Rebuild Kuwait. It occupied nearly 22,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor space at the then Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).
To augment the Centre’s exhibition space, Hall 2 - with 6,000 m2 of column-free space - was opened in 1999. In addition, a Convention Centre with 1,400 m2 metres of dedicated meeting space was inaugurated in 2003 to address the country’s growing demand for conference facilities.
In 2016 Manama was named Gulf Capital of Tourism which started a major chain of events and activities ranging from the Bahrain Sea Festival to the Handicraft (Hurafana) Exhibition.
In April 2016 BTEA launched its branding campaign for Bahrain called “Bahrain. Ours. Yours” which saw a huge acceptance by the people and proved successful in many ways
