Leadership's interest in cultural tourism highlighted

Manama, Mar. 4 (BNA): President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, has expressed pride in her designation by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) as a Special Ambassador for the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. She affirmed that the achievement is an international recognition of Bahrain’s outstanding experience in the field of cultural infrastructure and its role in promoting tourism as a source of sustainable development. In a statement to the "Akhbar Al-Khaleej" newspaper, Shaikha Mai highlighted the interest of the kingdom’s leadership in cultural tourism, which, she said, facilitated the establishment of an advanced cultural infrastructure that matches its counterparts in world countries. She explained that the role of special ambassadors is to build social awareness on the importance of culture in spurring economic growth and developing society, noting that each ambassador prepares their own work plan and presents them during this year’s three meetings in China, Muscat and the UN headquarters. The UNWTO designated Shaikha Mai bint Mohammad Al Khalifa as Special Ambassador for the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 on February 28 in recognition of her contribution to the promotion of sustainable cultural tourism, and will be inaugurated during a special ceremony on March 24. BACA president thanked the UNWTO officials, led by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, for choosing her to the post. She stressed that spending on cultural infrastructure yields long-term returns and achieves sustainable development, noting that her designation as a UNWTO special ambassador is a global vote of confidence in Bahrain’s distinguished cultural infrastructure experience, including the Pearl Route which provides a comprehensive vision to establish a cultural infrastructure that achieves sustainable development through revamping all the areas surrounding the route to serve the local inhabitants.