Dubai, During a panel discussion at the Arabian Travel Market 2024 in Dubai, Sarah Ahmed Buhijji, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), emphasised Bahrain's commitment to fostering seamless integration of tourism across the Arab Gulf nations. She underscored the pivotal role such integration plays in accelerating tourism sector growth and enhancing its contributions to economic, social, cultural, and civilizational advancement across the region. Joined by ministers from GCC states, the discussion, hosted by the UAE Ministry of Economy, focused on strategies to facilitate, and bolster tourism while exploring avenues for inter-GCC collaboration. Buhijji noted that "Highlighting the collective commitment among agreement parties to enhance tourism sector revenues, it is imperative to advocate for broader dissemination of these agreements across the Gulf region. This, I believe, would establish the region as a pioneering model for sustainable tourism development." She emphasised the nece ssity of initiating more Gulf tourism endeavors. Noting that this year marks the celebration of Manama's designation as the capital of Gulf tourism, stated, "Numerous cultural and artistic initiatives, along with promotional campaigns and diverse tourism packages, have been launched. The tangible impact of these efforts on the surge in tourism activity within Bahrain this year is evident. Therefore, we stress the imperative to embrace further innovative tourism ventures and initiatives collectively across our Gulf nations." The CEO of BTEA further outlined the strides made by the kingdom in advancing the tourism sector, as part of the concerted efforts by Team Bahrain to align with national objectives of invigorating all sectors and boosting their contributions to national development and prosperity. She presented impressive data showcasing the remarkable expansion of Bahrain's tourism sector within the framework of the ongoing Tourism Strategy (2022-2026) and underscored the importance of aligning tourism development with significant national events. Notably, in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's ascension to the throne, five new hotels were inaugurated this year. Additionally, BTEA organize events to mark this momentous national occasion, and the CEO of BTEA extended a warm invitation to all to visit Bahrain and partake in these celebratory festivities. Buhijji pointed to Bahrain's ever-evolving tourism infrastructure, citing examples like the Dana Amphitheater and the award-winning Exhibition World Bahrain which further solidify Bahrain's appeal for tourism investment. This is in addition to Bahrain's strong support for all tourism and hospitality businesses, including innovative SMEs that embrace the latest digital trends in the industry. Furthermore, She underscored the critical need for ongoing dialogues aimed at exchanging best practices and fostering collaboration in the advancement of the Gulf's tourism sector. Such concerted efforts are pivotal in dr iving job creation, diversifying income streams, and bolstering the region's GDP. Source: Bahrain News Agency