Hotel occupancy rates in Bahrain rose by 112 per cent to reach almost half capacity last month compared with the same period last year as the economic recovery from last year's unrest continues, a report said.

Bahrain also saw a massive 143pc growth in revenue per available room (RevPAR) to $97.96 and a 14.6 per cent rise in average daily rates (ADR) - room revenue divided by the total number of rooms sold, according to the report from London-based STR Global.

The figures do not include occupancy rates connected to the successful hosting of this month's Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, which businessmen estimated could generate up to $500 million for the economy.

'During March, hotels across Middle East, northern and southern Africa reported improving occupancy levels,' said STR Global managing director Elizabeth Randall.

'In other parts of the region, signs of stabilisation can be seen in the strong RevPAR improvements in Bahrain, Lebanon and Jordan.”

'Additional increases of more than 20 per cent were reported by Saudi Arabia and Oman, as well,” she added. – TradeArabia News Service