Bahrain International Travel Expo (BITE 2009), a business-to-consumer travel and tourism event, is set to be a sellout success.

The exhibition, being held under the patronage of Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince of Bahrain and Chairman of Bahrain’s Economic Development Board (EDB), opens this Thursday (May 14) at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The event runs till May 16.

As many as 104 exhibitors from 40 countries are taking part in expo despite the unprecedented industry challenges including the global economic downturn and recent pandemic scares, said organisers Magnum Events and Exhibitions Management (MEEM).

The exhibition space has been fully booked and the area has been expanded by about 1000 sq ft to accommodate the last-minute rush, said Jamil Wafa, founder and group chairman of Magnum Holding, the parent company of MEEM.

BITE 2009 will feature a dazzling array of on and offsite performances, as well as fantastic offers for consumers to enjoy, he said.

Wafa said: “BITE 2009 is about invigorating the travel and tourism industry. Consumers love to travel. By focusing on business-to-consumer relationships at BITE 2009, we will bring our consumers’ excitement, curiosity, and passion for travel to our exhibition.

“BITE is a commitment we have made to Bahrain and to the Crown Prince His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who has supported the exhibition since its inception. This year, we honour that commitment by presenting new and exciting on and offsite performances for the consumer and exceptional business opportunities for the travel professionals in attendance,” added Wafa.

On the evening May 14, renowned Egyptian singer Medhat Saleh will open BITE’s slate of performances at The Diplomat Radisson SAS. BITE 2009’s Guest Nation of Honour is Egypt, which sending a 35-member delegation led by Egypt’s Minister of Tourism Zuhair Garana, to further promote the country’s history and heritage at the expo.

The onsite events will include shows by folkloric dancers from Azerbaijan for the second year in a row; a Syrian dance troupe performing traditional Syrian folkdances; a group of performers to be flown in by Qatar Airways who will showcase the local costume, culture, and dance of the airline’s four newest destinations: Amritsar and Goa in India, Australia and the United States; and Italian folk dancers who will present traditional Italian song and dance.

The onsite entertainment will be held on the venue stage throughout all three days of the event.

To make the visitor experience even more lively and interactive, BITE 2009 will hold numerous raffle draws with exciting gifts such as ex-Bahrain return airfares, hotel stays including weekend specials, fine dining vouchers, and other impressive gift items.

Approximately 20,000 consumers and influential travel industry executives are expected to take part in the show.

The expo encompasses a wide variety of sectors ranging from airlines to car rental companies, conventions and exhibitions, cruise lines, health resorts and spa, hotel accommodation providers, MICE organisers, tourist attractions, tourism boards, tourism TV channels, tour operators, travel Insurance as well as travel and tourism publications.

BITE has again organised a Hosted Buyers Program. Running from the May 13 to 16, the program brings together key international MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) planners who are responsible for designing, organising, recommending, and making purchasing decisions for their respective MICE events which are to be held both inside and out of their home countries.

India’s Ministry of Tourism will hold a pre-exhibition road-show showcasing new and existing Indian destinations. The Incredible India Road Show will be held at The Sheraton Hotel on May 12 from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

BITE has