RIYADH, 14 June — Taking advantage of the fact that more and more Arabs are shunning the United States and European countries as summer holiday destinations, Bahrain is launching for the first time a summer festival that will run from July 1 to Aug. 31.
Raed Satar, a member of the coordinating committee of Bahrain Summer, said that an estimated 250,000-300,000 tourists from Saudi Arabia — 80 percent of them Saudis — are expected to visit Manama this summer.
He added that expatriates holding residential status in the Kingdom will be issued visas on arrival either at King Fahd Causeway or Bahrain International Airport in Manama.
Separate forms have been printed to help families from all nationalities to enter Bahrain with fewer formalities. A special counter to process and endorse visas for families during the festival period is being set up at the airport.
As for hotel accommodation, Satar pointed out that the Economic Development Board (EDB) has also been working with four- and three-star hotels as well as furnished apartments. These hotels will offer special promotional fares for visitors and their families.
Bahrain Summer is a maiden venture of the EDB, an independent government entity headed by crown prince and commander-in-chief of the Bahrain Defense Forces Sheikh Salman ibn Hamad Al-Khalifa. The objective is to boost Bahrain’s economic growth by enhancing the flow of tourists and new business development opportunities.
Satar said the world’s largest air-conditioned tent, with a seating capacity for 2,000 people, will be ready for the launch on July 1.
“These tents, where most of the shows will be featured, will have theater-style seating capable of accommodating 4,300 visitors at any one time.”
