Unlicensed Tour Operator Sentenced in Bahrain for Leaving 140 Bahrainis Stranded in Karbala

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Email: ashen@newsofbahrain.com

The Lower Criminal Court has sentenced an unlicensed tour operator to one year in prison and a fine of 10,000 dinars for leaving 140 Bahraini citizens stranded in Karbala, Iraq, after failing to pay for their accommodation.

The incident occurred when hotels in Karbala refused to release the passports of the Bahraini citizens due to the tour operator's failure to settle accommodation fees. 

The Bahraini embassy in Iraq intervened, successfully retrieving the passports and ensuring the safe return of the stranded citizens.

The court found the tour operator guilty of operating without a tourism license and engaging in commercial activity without a business license. The court also ordered the closure of his establishment.

The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) had previously announced that it had taken legal action against the tour operator following complaints from affected citizens.  The BTEA's tourism monitoring department had closed the operator's office and referred the case to the public prosecution.

The BTEA highlighted the importance of booking travel arrangements through licensed and reputable travel agencies. It emphasised that operating as a travel agency in Bahrain requires a license issued by the relevant authorities and warned that any unlicensed entities would face legal consequences.

It's worth noting that the Daily Tribune reported on Wednesday that approximately 30 Bahraini citizens had filed a collective complaint with the General Directorate of Anti-corruption and Economic and Electronic Security of the Ministry of Interior against the  unlicensed tour operator, alleging financial losses due to the agency's failure to fulfill its contractual obligations. 

The problems did not end with the return of the passports, as some travelers discovered that the operator had not booked sufficient visas for their return flight. The Bahraini Consulate in Iraq, in collaboration with the Gulf Air booking office in Iraq, intervened to ensure the travelers were not penalised and allowed to board their flights without any issues.