Tourists flock to Bahrain in Eid rush
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Almost all of the holiday destinations around Bahrain experienced a huge influx of visitors yesterday, with both expatriates and citizens making the most of the Eid holidays. The surge was further fuelled by travellers from other GCC nations, including Saudi Arabia, where the biggest Hajj pilgrimage since the COVID pandemic came to a successful close.
Owners of establishments such as restaurants, hotels, and shops in and around Manama said that despite the scorching summer heat, they experienced a high volume of visitors. The Daily Tribune reported earlier that authorities had organised a multitude of activities, with a particular focus on beaches, to welcome tourists.
The beaches in Jazaer, Marassi, and Water Garden City offered a diverse range of engaging activities for tourists. The resurgence in tourist activities also resulted in increased traffic, prompting several road users to express their frustration with the congestion.
The Eid celebrations commenced after hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims completed the ritual of pelting the three symbolic monoliths representing Satan under scorching temperatures, followed by the final "tawaf" of circling the Kaaba, the massive black cube at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
Estimates indicate that over 1.8 million people participated in the first unrestricted hajj since the onset of the COVID pandemic in 2020, with the number of participants reaching a record high of 2.5 million in 2019 before the pandemic.
The temperatures reached their peak on Tuesday at 48 degrees Celsius (118 Fahrenheit) when the pilgrims spent hours in prayer at Mount Arafat, while Wednesday saw the mercury rise to 47 degrees.
The vast majority of the 1.8 million pilgrims—over 1.6 million individuals—were foreigners, representing approximately 160 countries. Pilgrims from Bahrain reported that after performing the stoning ritual, they sacrificed animals and shaved their heads before proceeding with the circumambulation of the Kaaba.
They expressed satisfaction with the well-managed organisation of pilgrim movements towards Jamarat in batches, ensuring a safe hajj for all participants. Earlier, in a statement, the General Directorate of Traffic said it had intensified patrolling in all areas of the Kingdom to ensure smooth traffic.
The General Administration of Civil Defence also announced making necessary security arrangements to ensure a speedy response in the event of adversity.
Ramadan boosts business
"During the holy month of Ramadan, business flourishes, especially in the final 10 days, as anticipation for Eid grows," remarked Mohammed Aseeb, a local tailor, in a report published earlier.
Gulf countries have a long-standing tradition of purchasing new thobes (traditional garments) during Ramadan, resulting in factories receiving an overwhelming number of orders, with some factories handling up to 2000 thobe requests.
"To meet the surging demand, we have extended our working hours. As Eid draws near, our team works diligently, often completing tasks past midnight. In the days leading up to Eid, we even work through the night until sunrise to ensure timely delivery of clothes to our valued customers and fulfil all our orders," stated Imtiaz Ghulam Mohammed, owner of a thobe factory.
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