A multi-million-dinar plan to turn the Manama suq area into a heritage site is underway, it has been declared.

The plan initially involves the 'beautification' of the entire stretch of road leading from the Bab Al Bahrain entrance to the Bahrain Hotel, said Culture Ministry Under-Secretary Dr Isa Amin.

'A proposal for the beautification of the area is being prepared by the ministry now,' he told our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN).

'It will soon be presented to the Economic Development Board (EDB) for implementation.'

Dr Amin was speaking a day after Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa chaired a meeting of the Supreme Council of Tourism.

It discussed issues related to the tourism sector, including revamping the old Manama suq and Bab Al Bahrain, to turn them into a heritage site and an attraction for tourists.

'The idea is to enhance the area in such a way that it becomes attractive for tourists and residents,' he said.

'The plans include setting up small boutique hotels, coffee shops, restaurants, heritage exhibitions, 'custom' museums, monuments and gardens.

'How we plan to go about it and how much the whole project would cost as well as how long it would take to complete is not yet known.'

He said all these issues are being worked out and would form part of the proposal to be submitted to the EDB in the next few months.

'This proposal is part of the government's efforts to upgrade tourism in the country and make Bahrain one of the places on the tourism map of the world.'

Earlier in August, a major BD3.5 million ($9.3 million) revamp of the suq had been completed. The revamp consisted of setting up a shopping plaza and revamping of outside areas.

Work on a BD5 million second part of the first phase is due to start soon.

Work on the second phase would extend from Bab Al Bahrain to the Bahrain Financial Harbour, with a planned pedestrian bridge linking the Government Avenue to the corniche.-TradeArabia News Service