Jihad Amin, President of the Bahraini Travel and Tourism Offices Association, stressed the importance of hosting major sporting tournaments, such as the Asian Youth Games, which are held in the Kingdom of Bahrain from October 22 to 31, in promoting sports tourism and highlighting tourism in the Kingdom in general. Amin said that sports have become an important factor in tourism promotion for countries that host sporting events, noting that these events represent a golden opportunity to introduce the world to Bahrain’s heritage and culture, and provide a distinctive experience. For guests, which ensures that they return to visit Bahrain again. Amin explained: “Sports tourism is one of the seven basic pillars of the tourism strategy of the Kingdom of Bahrain 2022-2026, so hosting such a major continental event comes in line with that strategy, and in achieving its goals in developing the tourism sector in the Kingdom.” Amin pointed out that major sporting events’ benefits are not limited to the sports aspect only, but also contribute In strengthening the local economy and activating various sectors, such as hospitality, restaurants, and transportation, in addition to tourism offices in the Kingdom, he also added that Bahrain’s hosting of such tournaments reflects the government’s commitment to promoting sports tourism and providing a suitable environment to receive visitors. Amin pointed out that Bahrain, with its advanced infrastructure and hotels of various classifications, in addition to its friendly people, is able to provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience for visitors and participants in Championship, expressing his optimism that the Asian Youth Games will contribute to achieving Bahrain’s tourism goals, and will be a starting point for larger sporting events in the future, enhancing Bahrain’s position on the global tourism map.
