Tourism Promotion
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: Havana
Have a look at this article from the Times re. Bahrain tourism etc...
http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/...cle2406435.ece
http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/...cle2406435.ece
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 0
From: "como todo buen piloto... mujeriego y borracho"
One European airline is planning it's launch (soon, it says); it's inaugural routes will be between Madrid and Bahrain, and promotes Bahrain as a mix of an ecotourism destination, and a place to get your thrills with the Formula 1:
http://www.gadair.com
Sadly, even ecotourism is at risk.
The legendary oasis' are drying up, and what is left is being destroyed by development seemingly heedless of preservation. Land reclamation destroys what little reef there is left (ruining the fishing industry; don't know how the recreational pearl diving is), and trash in the water-- many many plastic bags, etc, threaten other marine species such as ocean turtles and the dolphins (which are nice to watch when going out).
A laissez-faire approach to traffic enforcement leaves dangerous (and often drunk) drivers to prowl the roads, make traffic a nightmare, and injuring the innocent. Of course, many of the trash is strewn around the streets before it ends up in the oceans, and although Bahrain threatens up to BD 10.- fines for littering, it will be quite something if I ever see a policeman enforcing the law. The "main tourist attraction" Tree of Life has broken branches, been torched, and has graffiti on it's trunk. The sand that surrounds it is littered with plastic wrappers and water bottles.
There is (seemingly), no real strategy to developing tourism. I don't think that competing with Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi are wise (or affordable). In fact, the most attractive destination in the region (Oman) does not even seek to emulate these locations. I agree with that round-abouts, a badly damaged tree in the desert, or a relatively insignificant fort (in the realm of world attractions to the discerning traveller), won't bring tourists to Bahrain. When people ask me if Bahrain is a place worthwhile visiting, I have to scratch my head a bit, and honestly say that with a 2-day stop over they have seen it all-- and Bahrain Immigration seems to agree because they give a 7-day visa to tourists.
The real tourism dollars flow in from other Khaleeji neigbors- Saudis, Kuwaits, Qatars, who come to indulge in wine and women. Yet there is plenty of navel-gazing on the ethics of this. But it begs the question on whether this practice is any more unethical than destruction of the environment and foolish misuse of resources?
That is not to say that I don't think that Bahrain isn't one of the best places to live in the Middle East (by the way, I don't recommend Doha, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi as tourism destinations either). I think thought that following the tourism bandwagon may well be folly-- more emphasis should be put into other areas, and I think that Bahrain would serve itself better by improving it's education system, fostering a "classroom" culture to provide it's people world-competitive skill-sets.
Perhaps Singapore is a model for Bahrain to try to emulate-- a similarly sized city-state to that of Bahrain, it transformed itself from a land of slums and poverty into a sustainable world-class metropolis in three decades.
http://www.gadair.com
Sadly, even ecotourism is at risk.
The legendary oasis' are drying up, and what is left is being destroyed by development seemingly heedless of preservation. Land reclamation destroys what little reef there is left (ruining the fishing industry; don't know how the recreational pearl diving is), and trash in the water-- many many plastic bags, etc, threaten other marine species such as ocean turtles and the dolphins (which are nice to watch when going out).
A laissez-faire approach to traffic enforcement leaves dangerous (and often drunk) drivers to prowl the roads, make traffic a nightmare, and injuring the innocent. Of course, many of the trash is strewn around the streets before it ends up in the oceans, and although Bahrain threatens up to BD 10.- fines for littering, it will be quite something if I ever see a policeman enforcing the law. The "main tourist attraction" Tree of Life has broken branches, been torched, and has graffiti on it's trunk. The sand that surrounds it is littered with plastic wrappers and water bottles.
There is (seemingly), no real strategy to developing tourism. I don't think that competing with Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi are wise (or affordable). In fact, the most attractive destination in the region (Oman) does not even seek to emulate these locations. I agree with that round-abouts, a badly damaged tree in the desert, or a relatively insignificant fort (in the realm of world attractions to the discerning traveller), won't bring tourists to Bahrain. When people ask me if Bahrain is a place worthwhile visiting, I have to scratch my head a bit, and honestly say that with a 2-day stop over they have seen it all-- and Bahrain Immigration seems to agree because they give a 7-day visa to tourists.
The real tourism dollars flow in from other Khaleeji neigbors- Saudis, Kuwaits, Qatars, who come to indulge in wine and women. Yet there is plenty of navel-gazing on the ethics of this. But it begs the question on whether this practice is any more unethical than destruction of the environment and foolish misuse of resources?
That is not to say that I don't think that Bahrain isn't one of the best places to live in the Middle East (by the way, I don't recommend Doha, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi as tourism destinations either). I think thought that following the tourism bandwagon may well be folly-- more emphasis should be put into other areas, and I think that Bahrain would serve itself better by improving it's education system, fostering a "classroom" culture to provide it's people world-competitive skill-sets.
Perhaps Singapore is a model for Bahrain to try to emulate-- a similarly sized city-state to that of Bahrain, it transformed itself from a land of slums and poverty into a sustainable world-class metropolis in three decades.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Bahrain
An Island with no public Beaches ?
Bahrain has virtually NO beaches for residents or tourists, if you discount Al Jazira which is never cleaned and could not be classified as a Western style beach.
When the late Amir's beach at Zellaq closed, that was it for tourism!
When the late Amir's beach at Zellaq closed, that was it for tourism!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Paradise
The bottom line is that Bahrain do not need Western tourists. The Saudi's and Qatari's keep Bahrain alive and they are happy with the current conditions.
They don't want more beaches.
Bahrain has nothing to offer Westerners. Taxi's are horrible. Driving is too dangerous.
They don't want more beaches.
Bahrain has nothing to offer Westerners. Taxi's are horrible. Driving is too dangerous.
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 0
From: "como todo buen piloto... mujeriego y borracho"
We need a catchy slogan....
BAH-what?
BAH-where?
BAHamas?
No, BAHrain.
BAH-what?
BAH-where?
BAHamas?
No, BAHrain.
Ohhhhhh Ohe Ohh Oh
Ohhhhhh Ohe Ohh Oh
BAH-RAIN! . . . .
Bah-rain! La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La
La La La La La La La La
Bahrain!
Bahrain! La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La
La La La La La La La La
Bahrain!
Bahrain! La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La
La La La La La La La La
Bahrain!
Bahrain! La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La
La La La La La La La La
Bahrain!
Bahrain! La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La
La La La La La La La La
Bahrain!
BAH-RAIN!
Ohhhhhh Ohe Ohh Oh
BAH-RAIN! . . . .
Bah-rain! La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La
La La La La La La La La
Bahrain!
Bahrain! La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La
La La La La La La La La
Bahrain!
Bahrain! La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La
La La La La La La La La
Bahrain!
Bahrain! La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La
La La La La La La La La
Bahrain!
Bahrain! La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La
La La La La La La La La
Bahrain!
BAH-RAIN!
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Just around the corner
Panama Jack Post # 10
Of course once the Royal Golf Course is completed then perhaps a stay could be extended by 3 or 4 days to get a few rounds in, see some sights and enjoy some quite memorable dining experiences in the evening.
