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Shaikh Khalid and Al Zayani at the event

New categorisation system for Bahrain hotels on way

MANAMA, February 25, 2015

A new categorisation system for hotels in Bahrain is set to come into force tomorrow (February 26) when it is published in the Official Gazette.

The rules for three, four and five-star hotels include regulations relating to the size of rooms, beds and the quality of furniture, among other things, as well as a change in terminology so that bars, discotheques and nightclubs will all be referred to as 'lounges,’ said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

More than 150 representatives of Bahrain's four-and five-star hotels met Industry and Commerce Minister Zayed Al Zayani and Tourism Affairs assistant under-secretary Shaikh Khalid bin Humood Al Khalifa yesterday at the InterContinental Regency Bahrain to discuss the new rules.

“The government supports all initiatives and ideas that meet the ambitions of the Bahrain Economic Vision and focus on developing vital sectors involving all parties to create jobs and achieve quality and competitiveness,” said Al Zayani.

“The ministry welcomes all ideas and initiatives that pour in this direction and will work hand in hand with all investors to highlight tourism features enjoyed by the kingdom in addition to providing and developing tourist projects.”

Tourism is growing with facilities revenues from January 1 last year to December 31 reaching about BD228 million ($602.1 million), an increase of 17.4 per cent compared to the same period in 2013, it was revealed.

Hotels recorded occupancy rates of 50.2 per cent last year, achieving an increase of 11.6 per cent.

“During the meeting, the officials told us about the new rules of classification for three, four and five-star hotels,” Elite Hospitality group chief operating officer Sarosh Aibara told the GDN.

“Shaikh Khalid stressed the need to have a set of regulations that apply to all hotels, and said that they wanted to attract tourists, not only from the GCC but elsewhere.”

Hotels will be given time to adhere to the new rules, he added.

Four Stars Hotels Committee chairman Hameed Al Halwachi described the meeting as a 'positive step'.

“I believe these new rules will make the industry more professional and competitive,” he said.

“We understand that it will be difficult for some to adapt to the new concepts of standardisation, but this is the future of tourism.”

Last July, live entertainment and alcohol were banned in all three-star hotels following allegations of 'immoral activities' in some venues, which is thought to be a reference to prostitution, substandard facilities and hotels being operated as entertainment venues rather than places to stay.

Then in November, the GDN reported that a one-month ban on live music had been imposed by the former Culture Ministry on 28 four-star hotels that allegedly broke tourism rules.

Authorities said they recorded 154 violations including hotels staying open after licensed hours, recruiting musicians without approval, hiring too many singers and deviating from their stated business.

Meanwhile, the number of visitors to Bahrain during 2014 was registered at about 10m, an increase of 11 per cent compared with 2013.

GCC visitors last year totalled about 6.6m, an increase of 16.8 per cent.

Citizens of Saudi Arabia made the largest share of GCC visitors with six million, marking an increase of 19.3 per cent compared to 2013. - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Bahrain | hotel | rules | Gazette | categorisation |

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