The tourism sector in Bahrain is viewed as one of the leading economic sectors and has great potential for further growth and development, said Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) chief executive officer Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa.

He spoke as he participated in the 3rd UNWTO/Unesco World Conference on Tourism and Culture in Istanbul, Turkey.

The conference, under the theme ‘for the Benefit of All’, is being held from December 3 to 5.

During the conference, Shaikh Khaled took part in a ministerial discussion which focused on strengthening collaboration between tourism and culture stakeholders.

The session brought together ministers of tourism and culture to share good practice examples on how policies can be aligned to accelerate the shift towards sustainable development, how countries around the world are supporting public-private partnerships and ways of strengthening tripartite collaboration between tourism, culture and community.

“His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has highlighted the importance of instilling national identity through the preservation of Bahraini Arabian horse breeds, the revival of the pearl industry and the restoration of historical sites in the kingdom. This has further positioned the Kingdom of Bahrain as an ideal tourist destination characterised by its unique traits,” said Shaikh Khaled.

“The BTEA’s strategy focuses on developing the tourism sector, which contributes to 6.9% of the kingdom's GDP, further increasing employment rates and supporting the national economy. The authority also plays an integral role in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030,” he added.

The conference will address different approaches of creative and sustainable cities in supporting tourism, building capacity of culture and tourism stakeholders to preserve cultural diversity, engaging host communities, promoting social inclusion and accessibility in tourism development, as well as the technological innovation in managing increasing visitor numbers. – TradeArabia News Service