Tourism

UNWTO: Increasing confidence in 2010 recovery for the tourism sector

The conditions of the tourism market are starting to indicate stronger prospects for a recovery in 2010. These include macroeconomic upward revisions from the IMF together with preliminary international tourism figures until August this year. This suggests some moderation in the declining results of the first half of this year. In addition, the UNWTO Panel of Experts Confidence Index reflects stronger confidence in market conditions. International arrivals declined by 4 per cent in July this year, a relative improvement when compared to decreases of 10 per cent in May and 7 per cent in June. Many destinations show a similar pattern of a gradual change for the better, particularly in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

US$185m Bahrain resort work to begin

Work will soon begin on a major BD70 million (US$185.7 million) mixed-use development project near Budaiya, it has been announced. The Suq Al Arabia Resort will feature a public beach, health club, shops and residential properties. Councilors are expected to sign an MoU with the project's investor within a month, as soon as the final designs are prepared, said Northern Municipal Council member and area councilor Mubarak Al Dossari. The project will begin work as soon as the contractors are ready and will take around two years to complete. It will cover 22,400sqm, opposite the Northern Town, and will be run according to Islamic values - meaning there will be no outlets selling alcohol.

India, Saudi Arabia to increase cooperation in tourism sector

Union Minister of State for Tourism, Sultan Ahmed discussed this month matters of bilateral cooperation in the tourism and hospitality sector and issues of mutual interest particularly with regard to ways and means of increasing tourism in both the countries. Ahmed held a meeting with Dr. Salah K. Al-Bukhyyet, Vice president for Investment, Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities. The bilateral cooperation envisages finalizing international executive program for cooperation. Ahmed offered India's vast expertise to augment the hospitality sector in Saudi Arabia and to train and enrich the human resources in the sector; and exchange of key personnel to learn from both sides in managing and maintaining heritage sites. In the long run it was also proposed that the Indian side could set up full-fledged Management cum Training Institute for training Saudi youth in the hospitality sector.