News, videos and reports related to tourism and entertainment indicate a major shift in the customs and trends of tourists, and that a greater number of tourists no longer only searching for traditional monuments and taking pictures, but rather wanting authentic experiences, indulging in the local culture of the state, and returning unique and unforgettable memories, and in cities such as Paris, London and Rome, tourists no longer are satisfied with visiting museums and historical and archaeological monuments, but rather They are looking more for festivals, local food tours in non -tourist neighborhoods, and even participating in the activities of the local community. In fact, these global transformations impose on tourist destinations to reconsider their strategies and plans to keep pace with these variables.
Many countries of the Middle East realized these variables early, and they no longer depend only on shopping and entertainment destinations, but have developed adventure tourism in the desert, cultural tourism in modern museums, and even medical tourism, and the Gulf states allocated huge budgets to convert heritage sites into interactive tourist destinations, and the creation of new destinations, and Bahrain of course was not immune to this regional and international competition.
What Bahrain witnessed this summer, especially activities and activities within the “Bahrain Summer” season, was very unique and attractive and won the admiration and attention of thousands of visitors around the world, from the “Bahrain Games Festival” to music performances, international parties, theatrical performances, and food festivals, all of which were sound steps in the right direction, but the challenge that most countries faced by Bahrain now, is to convert these seasonal activities into tourist products Permanent, the tourist who comes in January must find experiences similar to what he finds in July, and enjoy the same atmosphere and the same attention they receive for summer tourists.
This momentum has doubled the emergence of new tourist and tourist destinations in a short period such as the “Sama B” project in Qalali, the Galleria and the “Melia” beach in the Amwaj Islands and others, which are all combined with new attraction elements for the tourism sector in Bahrain that meet the aspirations of tourists, and enhance the attractiveness of tourism, especially family tourism. 5 -star, in addition to facilities that provide recreational and commercial activities, while the “Formula 1” race is still the top of the tourist events.
It is important here to form a more comprehensive knowledge of the means through which the tourist gets to know the new tourist destinations, and to invest in it, and to promote the new destinations through it, the tourist today does not read the tourist magazines, but it follows the influencers on Instagram, and the “Flogs” watch on YouTube, and follows new travel destinations through specialized electronic platforms and social media, so the world today needs a bolder digital strategy, targeted, targeted Specific slices of tourists, such as history lovers, or fans of the experience of different varieties of food, or seeking luxury and entertainment.
Bahrain has all the ingredients to be a distinct tourist destination, a rich history, a strategic location, a hospitable people, economic and political stability, but the competition is now more fierce, and success in it requires a comprehensive vision that combines the development of various tourism products, improving infrastructure, smart marketing, and sustainability, the future for countries that understand that tourism is no longer a luxury, but rather a strategy industry that contributes to economic diversity Creating job opportunities, increasing gross domestic product, and Bahrain is able to be at the forefront of these countries with merit, while continuing to invest in turning the challenges of the sector into real opportunities.
