Bahrain hotels slash rates

Five-star hotels in Bahrain have been forced to slash rates in a bid to stimulate the tourism sector which has come to a virtual standstill due to the political unrest which has gripped the country.

Vinod A Patric, tours development manager at inbound operator House of Travel in Manama said GCC nationals were beginning trickle back to Bahrain due to the bargain deals being offered at hotels. “The five-star hotels have come down with the rates to encourage GCC nationals to visit Bahrain," he said. "The hotel owners have taken a very costly step - they are offering around 49 BHD (US$130) with breakfast, so the Saudi market is opening up again and occupancy levels are increasing.”

A report released by CBRE last week indicated that hotel occupanies in Bahrain have plummeted to as low as 5% and the opening of some new hotel properties have been delayed.

“With Formula One “called off”, low levels of visitation by Saudi and Kuwaiti nationals and business travel curtailed, the hospitality and leisure industry has experienced a substantial setback so far this year,” said the report.

Bahrain declared martial law on March 15 after troops from Saudi Arabia and the UAE arrived to help quell protests that have gripped the Gulf state for more than a month.