Strategic support
In true Bahraini style, growth and maturity in the travel and tourism sector will be supported and enabled by strategic infrastructure investments. The ambitious Friendship Bridge is due for completion in 2013 and will provide a direct link between Bahrain and Qatar.
Spanning more than 40 kilometres, the project will become the world’s longest marine bridge and will make Bahrain more accessible to inter-regional visitors.
The Friendship Bridge builds upon the success of the 25 kilometre King Fahd Causeway which connects Bahrain with Saudi Arabia. Since its opening in the 1980s, Bahrain has experienced growth in weekend and short-stay tourists from its neighbouring country.
It is hoped that the Friendship Bridge will foster similar growth from 2013 onwards. In a further effort to increase inbound tourist flows, Bahrain International Airport is also undergoing expansion.
By increasing capacity to 15 million passengers per annum, Bahrain hopes to improve connections to its key feeder markets.
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By investing strategically in infrastructure, fostering a robust and transparent business community and opening its economy to foreign investment, Bahrain may have secured the long-term success of its hospitality industry.
“Bahrain has always focused its efforts on the building of foundations ahead of building landmarks,” said Coubat.
“So I think the reasons to invest and do business there are clear. It provides a free, open and transparent environment for business and has a globally competitive, value-creation story which focuses on sustainability, skills and good governance,” he adds.
However, against this backdrop of change, Bahrain still has something to prove to its critics. Can this small, historic country hold its traditions and culture during this unprecedented period of growth? Or will it dilute its greatest asset?
“As Bahrain becomes an increasingly competitive market, hotel developers should be careful,” concludes Landais.
“Although the country presents great opportunities, we have to bear in mind that it only has a population of one million people and that the market is limited.”
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