The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism (MoICT) has today announced the closure of a women's beauty salon, adding that the necessary legal actions are being taken.

The salon continued receiving customers and delivering its regular services in violation of the decision to close some industrial and commercial outlets in order to limit the spread of the novel Coronavirus pandemic. The decision came into effect as of today.

On the occasion, Mr. Abdulaziz Al Ashraf, Assistant Undersecretary for Control and Resources, said that the teams of the Inspection Directorate will continue their inspection visits across the kingdom.

He underlined the importance of taking the decisions seriously, pledging zero tolerance for violations of the rules and decisions to curb the spread of the pandemic.​

HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashed Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Chairman of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA), has recently participated in the 47^th meeting of the Regional Commission for the Middle East of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) held in Riyadh.

The meeting was chaired by the United Arab Emirates, with the participation of Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of UNWTO, and a number of Ministers of Tourism in the Middle East and representatives of the member states.

The Minister stressed the importance of the meeting, considering the tremendous changes experienced on the local and regional levels.

He also underlined the prominent role played by the meeting in working closely between the attendees to solve all obstacles experienced by the tourism sector in the Middle East, and develop joint tourism plans to enhance opportunities for growth and development of this vital sector during the coming period.

During the meeting, a number of issues related to tourism were reviewed, including discussing the general work programme for the period 2020-2021, discussing harmonised standards for protocols for the Middle East region, naming the host country for the World Tourism Day for the year 2023 and a number of issues related to tourism in the region.

As part of the Tourism Promotion Conference and the 47^th meeting of the Regional Commission for the Middle East of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) held in Riyadh, HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashed Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, today met HE Mr. Ahmed bin Aqeel Al Khatib, Minister of Tourism in Saudi Arabia.

During the meeting, the ministers reviewed the key government plans and programmes carried out by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support the tourism sector, increase means of cooperation and activate intra-tourism between the two brotherly countries.

The ministers also reviewed the positive returns of reopening the King Fahd Causeway and discussing the opportunities available to attract cruise ships in accordance with the existing precautionary controls and procedures.

Mr. Al Zayani also underlined the key steps taken by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain to advance the tourism sector, which today has become one of the pillars of economic development in the country and the region. ​

HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashed Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, met Dr Abdulla Masum, Minister of Tourism in the Republic of the Maldives, on the side-lines of the 47^th meeting of the Regional Commission for the Middle East of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

The ministers discussed the joint relations between the two friendly countries and ways to enhance cooperation and joint coordination between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Maldives, and to benefit from the experiences of both sides in the field of tourism, especially in the field of marine and water tourism, and to get acquainted closely with the most important sectors related to this aspect, in addition to discussing a number of related issues of common interest

HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashed Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Chairman of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA), has received today HE Mr. Ramzi Msharrafieh, Lebanese Minister of Tourism, on the side-lines of the 47^th meeting of the Regional Commission for the Middle East of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) held in Riyadh.

During the meeting, the Minister stressed the depth of the brotherly relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Lebanese Republic, noting in the same context the importance of mutual events and visits between officials in both countries and their role in raising the levels of economic exchange between them and strengthening their joint relations.

Mr. Al Zayani reviewed the economic and investment climate, and the major developments in the tourism sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the simplified procedures followed by the Respected Government in order to provide the appropriate atmosphere to establish and attract investment projects in the country.​

HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashed Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Chairman of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA), has recently inaugurated the Grand Swiss-Belhotel Waterfront Seef hotel, the latest of the Swiss-Belhotel International's hotels in the Kingdom.

The hotel's Board of Directors Chairman, Gavin M. Faull, officials from BTEA and the hotel's administrators attended the opening ceremony.

On the occasion, the Minister said that the tourism sector enjoys the great interest of the Government of Bahrain, and tops its priorities, being among the fast-growing economic sectors.

He added that the opening of the 5-star Grand Swiss-Belhotel Waterfront Seef hotel in Bahrain indicates that the tourism sector in Bahrain is progressing, which will create more competitiveness that enhances the quality of hotel services, increases investments and attracts more tourists.

Mr. Al Zayani asserted that BTEA is interested in turning Bahrain into a distinguished regional and international tourism destination to increase the tourism sector's contributions to the Kingdom's GDP.

The hotel's board chairman expressed commitment to developing tourism in Bahrain and ensuring the highest levels of quality, lauding the government's support for the tourism sector. He affirmed that the sector is growing steadily thanks to the government's facilities and initiatives.

HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashed Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Chairman of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA), has recently affirmed that the development of tourism facilities is one of the pillars of the success and growth of the tourism sector, and an important element of the country's tourist attractions, as it constitutes one of the key economic sectors that have a direct impact on the movement of economic and commercial growth in general.

This came during the opening ceremony of the Swiss-Belsuites Admiral Juffair, held under the patronage of the Minister, where he was received by Mr. Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President for Operations and Development in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India, Mr. Alban Dotemple, Group General Manager, Mr. Hussain Bader, CEO pf the Hotel, and a number of senior officials in the Ministry and hotel management.

On this occasion, the Minister said: “The Respected Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain is exerting great efforts to promote the Kingdom of Bahrain as an ideal investment destination due to its qualifications and its environment, which incubates various investments and economic activities.  This is in addition to the social and welcoming atmosphere that characterises the people of Bahrain and the availability of many tourism and entertainment facilities that suit the global taste in its various orientations."

The Minister also praised all the services provided by the hotel through its various facilities, which meet the needs and requirements of the guests and visitors, noting in this context the Government's appreciation for the efforts made by the hotel management in organising valuable and purposeful programmes that would enhance the tourism and commercial sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and promote it as a preferred destination for visitors from the region and abroad.

On his part, Mr. Bader, thanked the Minister for his kindness and sponsorship of the opening ceremony of the Swiss-Belsuites Admiral Juffair, which is a new and modern addition to the Swiss-Belhotel International Group in Bahrain and the region, confirming the Group's success in Bahrain.​

On the side-lines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2021, launched in Dubai on May 16, 2021, Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), visited Bahrain pavilion at the Market, where he was received by HE Mr. Zayed bin Rashed Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, and Dr Nasser Qaedi, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA).

Represented by BTEA and Gulf Air, the Kingdom of Bahrain participates in the Arabian Travel Market 2021 with a pavilion occupying 400 square metres that is designed to reflect the attractiveness of tourism in Bahrain, while the Authority presents to the visitors a detailed presentation of the key tourist attractions in the Kingdom and tourism programmes.

The Bahraini pavilion in ATM 2021 includes a distinguished section of Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in addition to seven private tourism sector establishments that present their best offers in this event, which is considered the largest of its kind in the region, and is being held this year under the theme "A New Dawn for Travel and Tourism".

It is worth noting that 62 major exhibitors and participants will participate in the live edition of this year's ATM, and the most prominent participating countries include: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Germany, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Italy, Israel, Greece, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Maldives, the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico and the United States of America.​