What's new in Bahrain?

Bahrain is forging ahead with a tourism plan that includes restoring its historical attributes while constructing modern developments to attract both business and leisure travellers.

Business-friendly Bahrain' is well-established as a hub for international financial, transportation and manufacturing companies, making it a hive of corporate activity. As a result, the tourism market can be overwhelmingly focused on MICE and business travel.

However, Bahrain has a lot to offer and is increasingly angling toward the leisure market, with new developments and a focus on restoring the rich history of the islands.

One major challenge, according to Banyan Tree Al Areen general manager Sami Ayari, is attracting international guests to Bahrain.

"Travellers outside the GCC won't necessarily look at Bahrain as a destination; it's not a beach destination and it's not a shopping destination," he says.

"The biggest opportunity in Bahrain is to enhance the cultural heritage - it's all there, it just needs to be made more tourist-friendly for travellers from overseas.

Cultural hotspots for tourists include the Bahrain Portuguese Fort, built in 1522, which can be explored with the aid of a professional tour guide or on a self-guided walking tour; the Al Fateh Mosque; and the museum of pearl diving.

The buzzing Adliya district is home to a range of popular and award-winning restaurants and nightspots, making it a worthy alternative to hotel dining.

Bahrain is set to grow considerably over the next few years, with an influx of new hotels; the highly-anticipated Bahrain Bay projects; government initiatives to create beaches; and an ever-expanding range of shopping facilities.

However, this raft of development poses several challenges, according to Al Areen's Ayari. He stresses that growth must be measured in order to maintain the country's unique character.

"Bahrain is a diamond in the rough - my only hope is that it will be now be carefully cut," says Ayari.

BIC

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is not only the host of Formula One racing in Bahrain; the venue has transformed itself into the perfect destination for MICE tourism, offering a range of meeting rooms, conference spaces and incentive opportunities.

The Al Sakhir Tower caters to corporate, private, social and cultural events, with each floor of the tower featuring hospitality lounges.

The Oasis Complex is a stand-alone group of 12 hospitality lounges that can be used for meetings, conferences and product launches.

BIC has developed a range of corporate incentive and team-building driving activities, both off-road and on-road, which include go-karts, caterhams, quads and Hummers.

Golf course

Bahrain's former Riffa Golf Club has transformed into an international standard championship course, including the Royal Golf Club at Riffa Views.

Riffa Views Golf Club is a PGA, 18-hole, par-72 course. The new course opened in late 2008.

Restored houses

Sheikha Mai bin Mohammed Al Khalifa is the driving force behind the transformation of one of Bahrain's residential neighbourhoods, with the intention of enhancing the country's bid to become a UNESCO Arab World Culture Capital.

Sheikha Mai holds a Masters degree in political history and is Bahrain's current minister for culture and information.

The buildings selected for the restoration project include: Beit Ebrahim Al Arrayed - the house of the Bahraini poet and intellectual was restored as a cultural centre with exhibition rooms, a library and spaces for lectures and public events; Abdullah Al Zayed Press Heritage House - the former home of Abdulla Al Zayed, who established Bahrain's first magazine in 1934; Beit Al Kurar - a tiny museum conceived in the hope of saving the craft of Kurar's labour-intensive embroidery.

Kurar typically required three women to weave a multitude of threads between their fingers to produce the fringe along traditional thobes; Iqra Children's Library - a bright and modern library for local children, aiming to connect local children to cultural differences; and Bait Mohammed bin Faris (opening soon) where visitors view display cases holding musical instruments, and sheets of music notes.

Bahrain Bay and Marina West

Bahrain Bay is an upcoming mixed-use development situated near the Bahrain World Trade Centre and diplomatic area. The project will be anchored by a Four Seasons hotel tower offering 220 rooms, scheduled to open its doors in 2010.

In addition, CapitaLand is developing Raffles City in Bahrain Bay; a unique 45,000m² residential and retail development that is due for phased completion in 2010.

Another development underway in Bahrain is Marina West - a new residential development on the Kingdom's west coast. It will feature a hotel by Turkish hotel company Rixos. The Rixos Marina West Hotel will be a beachfront property, scheduled to open in April 2010, that "will bridge the rich lifestyle of ancient Turkish culture with modern day luxury.

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