Celebrating the tourism surge in the Kingdom of Bahrain and Manama Capital of the Arab Tourism in 2013, the Arab Tourism Organization of the Arab League held (Tuesday 29th January) a celebration on the occasion of granting H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al Khalifa, Culture Minister, the International Tourism Award in Leadership and Innovation. The prize was presented by Dr Bandar bin Fahd al Fahaid, Chairman of the Arab Tourism Organization, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of SCTA. The ceremony was attended also by Arab League Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs Dr. Mohammad bin Ibrahim Al Tuwaijri, H.E Islamic Bank Director, Diplomats and consul-generals, together with many dignitaries of the Arab World and Middle-East Saudi tourism officials and executives.
At the opening ceremony's press conference, Dr Bandar bin Fahd al Fahaid, Chairman of the Arab Tourism Organization, said that granting H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa, Culture Minister, the award comes in recognition of her efforts to promote Arab tourism work in general and the tourism sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain in particular. Dr Bandar bin Fahd al Fahaid, Chairman of the Arab Tourism Organization also referred to Bahrain’s promising future in tourism, as tourism is considered as one of the major economic tributaries, especially for the job creation. He also praised the efforts of Her Highness Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Culture and Information in Bahrain for her support and follow-up of tourism activities in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in addition to her brilliant initiatives in this regard. The award also comes in recognition of her effective contribution to the ATO meetings and the visions she presented to promote the sector in the region. He also noted that the judging panel of the award comprised a number of personalities in tourism on the regional and global levels. He affirmed that the Bahrain is currently witnessing a remarkable economic and tourism development that enables it to become the focus for tourists and investors. Dr. Mohammad bin Ibrahim Al Tuwaijri, the Arab League Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs, stressed the importance of tourism in the sustainable development in Arab countries and the crucial role of security and stability in the upsurge of tourism. Dr. Al-Tuwaijri also called on businessmen to increase their contribution in tourism sponsoring projects, praising the strenuous efforts deployed by the Chairman of the Arab Tourism Organization in order to enact and apply the recommendations and decisions of Arab economic development and social summits.
H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad, Minister of Culture, for her part, expressed her pleasure about the honour and also her appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of SCTA, Dr Bandar bin Fahd al Fahaid, Chairman of the Arab Tourism Organization and H.E Islamic Bank Director for their support and efforts to tourism development projects in Bahrain.
In the award ceremony speech, Her Highness Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, highlighted the importance of the longstanding historical relationships between Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain, adding that celebrations of Manama as the Capital of Arab Tourism, 2013, "represent a major event in the region and throughout the Arab world; the Ministry of Culture has prepared a comprehensive programme covering economic, social and cultural aspects". H.E Minister of Culture also gave a detailed review of the four seasons of tourism planned by the Ministry during the celebrations of Manama as the Capital of Arab Tourism, 2013.
