Crown Prince receives World Tourism Organisation Secretary General

Manama, Mar 31 (BNA) -- His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister today met with the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Dr. Taleb Rifai, at Riffa Palace. His Royal Highness and Dr. Rifai discussed cooperation and coordination between Bahrain and the UNWTO to bolster the tourism sector in the Kingdom. His Royal Highness said that the wide variety of attractions in the Kingdom, including its ancient monuments, provide Bahrain with the potential to become a leading regional and worldwide tourist destination. Regarding the ongoing initiatives of the Kingdom in the tourism sector, His Royal Highness emphasised the Kingdom’s commitment to encouraging developments that create job opportunities and contribute to the country’s economic growth. The meeting also covered recent initiatives with regards to the development of cultural tourism that has generated international interest. In this regard, His Royal Highness stated that the designation of the Kingdom as the Capital of Arab Tourism in 2013 by the Arab Tourism Organisation and the status of Bahrain Fort and the Pearl Trail as UNESCO World Heritage sites underscore the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting culture and tourism in the region. Dr. Taleb said that Bahrain’s rich and unique cultural heritage reflects the Kingdom’s potential to become a regional and international tourism destination. The official highlighted that the unique combination of ancient cultural heritage with state of the art infrastructure makes Bahrain a unique platform to promote cultural knowledge and exchanges in addition to tourism. The meeting was attended by His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, the Minister of Culture.