New law empowers Bahrain Tourism Minister to impose temporary shutdowns and fines up to BD30,000

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Revolutionising the landscape of Bahrain’s tourism sector, the Services Committee of the Parliament has given the nod for groundbreaking legislation, amplifying the authority of the Minister of Tourism.

Under the new law, the minister gains unprecedented power to enact temporary shutdowns and impose fines of up to BD30,000 on tourism facilities found violating regulations, marking a pivotal move to fortify industry standards and ensure a robust tourism environment.

The new legislation is expected to reshape the landscape of the tourism sector in the Kingdom and result in the introduction of robust measures to safeguard the industry. Under the amended legislation, the Minister of Tourism gains the power to impose restrictions or conditions on licenced services, ensuring the protection and vitality of the tourism sector.

The expanded authority encompasses a range of measures, including the ability to downgrade the classification of a tourism facility, temporarily suspend its license or activities for up to three months, and even partially or completely close the facility until violations are rectified. Notably, the minister can now levy daily administrative fines for non-compliance and violation removal.

The fines are structured, with a first-time offence incurring a daily fine of up to BD100, while repeated violations within three years may result in a daily fine of up to BD200. The total administrative fines are capped at BD20,000, with an additional discretionary fine not exceeding BD30,000, considering the severity of the violation.

Decree

The minister, armed with the authority granted by the legislation, can issue a decree specifying violations, corresponding fine amounts, and additional penalties as deemed necessary.

This move is part of ongoing efforts to regulate the tourism sector, foster its development, and ensure a dependable tourism environment. These amendments, targeting three key articles of the tourism law, aim to diversify income sources and align with Bahrain’s overarching tourism strategy.

The introduction of graduated administrative penalties fills a legislative gap, which is crucial for maintaining national tourism standards and reputation. The urgency of issuing this legislative decree as a law underscores its significance in addressing offences in line with their severity.