A major tourism drive is being launched to support the sector in Bahrain during summer.

The four-pronged strategy, dubbed ‘four paths to happiness’, includes a local market, Eid concerts, a summer festival and a new initiative designed to encourage more visitors to Bahrain’s historic sites, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication,

It was unveiled yesterday by Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) president Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa during a Press conference at Bahrain National Museum.

Activities commence with the Bab-Market Ramadhaniyath, which will take place over two weekends, on June 26 and 27 and July 3 and 4 at the Art Centre and Cultural Hall, in Manama.

Vendors selling Bahraini products and homemade food will be accompanied by interactive installations, performances, arts and 
crafts from 8pm to 1am each day.

This will be followed by a series of Eid concerts beginning with a performance by the Mohamed bin Fares Folk Band and the annual Ta’a Al Shabab youth culture festival on July 18 at the Cultural Hall, from 8pm.

On July 19 music with a Moroccan flavour will be performed at the same venue from 8pm,  while Saudi musician Majid Al Mohandis will perform at the Bahrain National Theatre on July 21 from 8pm.

After Eid a range of activities have been lined up as part of the Summer Festival from July 30 to August 31, under the theme “our year of 
heritage”.

Included are a variety of free cultural, educational and entertainment activities for families at the Nakhool Tent, next to Sitra Mall, with mascot Nakhool, a character symbolising Bahrain’s tradition, culture and its Dilmun history.

In addition as part of a six-month campaign to promote tourism and attract visitors to Bahrain’s cultural sites, the Culture Tourism Passport initiative is being introduced.

Every time someone visits one of 21 sites they can get their passports stamped – and those who visit all 21 are entered into a draw to win a trip outside Bahrain.

The scheme is open to both Bahrainis and foreigners and the 21 sites are the Bahrain National Museum, Bu Maher Fort and Visitor Centre, Bahrain National Theatre, Bahrain Fort, Bahrain Fort Site Museum, Riffa Fort, the Tree of Life and Visitor Centre, Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Centre for Culture and Research, Bab Al Bahrain and Visitor Centre, Al Hedaya Al Khalifia School, Oil Museum, Bait Al Quran, Mohammed bin Fares Hall, Al Qaysariya Suq, Ibrahim Al Arrayed House of Poetry, Khalaf House, Al Fateh Mosque, Khamis Mosque, Barbar Temple, Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa House and Bin Matar House.

“This summer season, starting with Eid until later this year, we have four major attractions which we call the ‘four paths to happiness’,” Shaikha Mai told the GDN.

“They are the Culture Tourism Passport, Ramadhaniyath (Bab-Market), Eid concerts and the Summer Festival.

“As part of the new concept, the Culture Tourism Passport, we will be introducing the best places in Bahrain to not 
only foreigners but also to locals and those in the region, who are yet to see many of these places.  

“A Dilmun stamp on the passports of those who visit these sites will be proof of pride for Bahrain.”

Shaikha Mai said Bahrain needed to put more emphasis on heritage and culture tourism as an alternative to shopping in modern malls.

“If only we are allowed to work as much as we want in terms of promoting the country and its culture, as there is a lot of potential in the tourism of Bahrain,” she said.

“Unfortunately, nobody supports the right thing here – as in promoting what is there in Bahrain and this is the main problem. The whole focus is on trying to copy Dubai and go for malls, which should not be the way.

“We need to go for culture as Bahrain is a cultural destination and a beautiful destination that has class and quality.

“We need to promote it that way, instead of going only on a commercial angle.

“We can afford to be different and must do something different to attract the crowd from the GCC and the world, by offering them something novel and which is unique to Bahrain.”

The Culture Tourism Passport initiative will run from Eid until mid-December. - TradeArabia News Service