Foreign Ministry cooperation with BTEA stressed

TDT | Manama

Cooperation and coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) is crucial in promoting international tourism, especially in light of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

This is according to Foreign Ministry undersecretary Dr Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Duaij Al Khalifa, who said this yesterday during a video conference with BTEA CEO Nader Al Moayyed. Dr Shaikha Rana said that endorsing Bahrain as a tourist destination abroad can be supported through the Kingdom’s embassies in various countries of the world, particularly amidst the COVID-19 pandemic which has drastically affected the sector.

Dr Shaikha Rana also expressed the readiness of the Foreign Ministry, through its missions, to attract and encourage the hosting of regional and international conferences, as well as trade fairs, in the Kingdom. This would increase the contribution of the tourism sector to the development of the national economy, she said.

Dr Shaikha Rana expressed her appreciation for the efforts made by the BTEA in developing the tourism sector in Bahrain, and praised the important initiatives undertaken within the framework of the Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030. She reviewed important tourism components that Bahrain possesses, and its strategic position as a country attractive to Gulf and international travellers.

She stressed the importance of the Foreign Ministry’s support for various programmes aimed at achieving BTEA’s goals to enhance the position of the Kingdom as a leading tourism destination among the countries of the region.

On his part, the BTEA chief expressed his appreciation for the great support enjoyed by the BTEA from the Foreign Ministry, and stressed the importance of continued cooperation and coordination between the two parties to promote the tourism sector in the Kingdom.