Bahrain will host the world’s biggest gastronomic tourism event next year.
Saudi Arabia has been given the opportunity by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to host the 9th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomic Tourism in 2024.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of the 8th World Forum on Gastronomy and Tourism in San Sebastian, Spain, which concluded on Saturday.
This year’s forum was organized by UNWTO and the Basque Culinary Center (BCC) with support from the Spanish government.
Next year’s Forum will be the first time the event will be held in the Middle East, as Bahrain will host a food tourism event featuring visitor experiences linked to food, related products and activities during their travels.
This forum may also include other related activities, such as visits to local producers, participation in food festivals, and participation in cooking classes.
Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) will host the forum at Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “We are very pleased to be hosting this forum in the Middle East for the first time.”
“As the region is experiencing rapid development in the tourism sector, we are pleased to be able to showcase Bahrain’s rich heritage and unique spirit of sharing embedded in its gastronomy, which is the driving force behind comprehensive tourism development. I’m excited about it.”
This outstanding international recognition reflects the insightful vision of the Ministry of Tourism and BTEA to pursue innovation and excellence in gastronomic tourism on a global scale and strengthen Bahrain’s competitiveness in various conferences and exhibitions around the world. reflects.
This direction is well aligned with the Tourism Strategy 2022-2026 objective of transforming Bahrain into a leading regional and global tourism hub.
BTEA Chief Executive Dr. Nasser Qaidi said, “We are extremely honored by UNWTO’s remarkable recognition to host the 9th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomic Tourism in the Kingdom.”
“Bahrain is proud to have a variety of culinary flavor combinations that reflect its rich heritage and attractive spotlight for gourmet and gourmet tourists.
“This prestigious event serves as an ideal platform to offer the best innovative solutions to enhance gastronomic tourism, highlighting its rich heritage, the crossroads of civilizations and cultures, the diversity of local cuisine and the diverse It highlights the kingdom’s outstanding gourmet and culinary experiences based on its reputation for people’s taste. ”
Dr Kaedi said the forum will actively support the diversity of tourism products and increase the inflow of inbound tourists.
GDN reported last Friday that Manama has been selected as the “Gulf Tourism Capital” for 2024. The city is scheduled to launch several quality tourism initiatives as well as a series of exclusive travel packages customized for GCC citizens and residents.
According to a GDN report, Bahrain received around 10 million tourists, exceeding its target number by an impressive 20 percent.
The number of tourists visiting Japan increased by 51% in the first half of this year, reaching 5.9 million from 3.9 million in the same period in 2022.
Total inbound tourism receipts for the same period exceeded 924 million BD, an increase of 48% from 623 million BD in the same period last year.
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