Manama, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) held a familiarisation trip for 15 wedding planners from the UK, Romania and a number of European countries. This trip comes as a result of the BTEA's efforts to attract weddings from various countries. It serves to promote the kingdom as an ideal choice for hosting destination weddings and celebrations. By engaging international wedding planners, the authority aims to expand the network of wedding planners and explore the possibility of including the kingdom in their destinations. Sarah Ahmed Buheji, the CEO of BTEA, emphasised the significance of this trip in offering companies and entities involved in the wedding industry an opportunity to closely familiarise themselves with what Bahrain has to offer. It allows participants to explore the unique venues and globally renowned luxury hotels that contribute to Bahrain's tourism and hospitality sector, she added. The CEO said that the authority has successfully attracted 104 major weddings since 2017 , which in turn have brought approximately 39,000 guests and visitors to the kingdom. Buheji highlighted that the Authority collaborates closely with private sector tourism establishments, including hotels, resorts, and hospitality facilities, to ensure the availability of all necessary facilities and services for weddings. This includes the authority's collaboration with Gulf Air, Bahrain's national carrier, which serves 50 destinations around the world and provides two daily flights to London and four weekly flights to Manchester. The CEO emphasised the availability of international hotels in the kingdom that are well-suited for weddings and events, along with a sophisticated infrastructure that caters to the diverse needs of visitors and tourists. She emphasised Bahrain's efforts in expanding the airline network, streamline visa and port procedures, increase the number of hotel rooms, and provide all necessary amenities for visitors. Notably, there are 75 four-star hotels available in Bahrain. Bahrain' s tourism industry has achieved global recognition, being named the top destination for expatriates by "InterNations" and ranked among the top 10 safest countries by "Numbeo". Buheji said that the authority's specialied team for weddings and events has contributed to Bahrain receiving prestigious awards such as "Best World Wedding Destination 2020" by "Travel and Leisure" and "Best Tourist Destination for Indian Brides" at the FO Asia Awards Exhibition and Conference 2019. These accolades highlight Bahrain's commitment to providing exceptional experiences and establishing itself as a premier wedding destination. Source: Bahrain News Agency