The third edition of the Bahrain shopping festival, titled ‘Shop Bahrain’ will feature an array of family-oriented activities and events, and a unique shopping experience from January 19 to February 18.
The 30-day festival aims to attract more visitors from neighbouring GCC countries, including Qatar, to visit and shop in Bahrain and experience its
hospitality and tourism offerings.
“This major event in Bahrain aims to stimulate and energise its retail sector and labour market and promote the tourism sector, Nawaf Alkoheji, project manager, Shop Bahrain, told reporters in Doha yesterday.
Part of Bahrain’s tourism strategy is to increase the average tourist expenditure from the Bahraini dinar (BD)100 to BD136 per day by 2018.
“We have seen an increase in the number of tourists per year. Qatar nationals and residents come number three after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait; these numbers are going
to increase,” Alkoheji said.
With most of the major malls participating, he said any shopper who buys at any participating retail outlet for a minimum of BD10 gets a coupon for a raffle draw.
Participating hotels have also developed new travel packages for Shop Bahrain visitors at cheaper rates than booking a hotel and flights separately.
Visitors who stay or avail of these offers are also entitled for coupon and a chance to win
major prizes in a raffle draw.
“During the festival, tourists and guests can avail from loyalty points when using the services at any of the 17 participating hotels that include a number of five and four star hotels,” Alkoheji added.
Another highlight of Shop Bahrain is the return of the ‘Taste Tour,’ which aims to showcase more than 25 restaurants that serve a wide range of dishes.
Shop Bahrain has also lined up several entertainment activities and events for all ages at Festival City, a newly-built temporary circus facility within the Bahrain Bay area, next to Four Seasons Hotel. “We have activities that are more tailored for GCC families and we are launching Festival City, which is more family-oriented.”
About the timing of Shop Bahrain, he stressed that GCC countries complement each other in holding similar festivals such as those in the UAE (Dubai) and Qatar. The duration of these festivals also fall in public and school holidays in the region.
According to the official, more than 20 shopping malls took part in Shop Bahrain last year, generating BD11mn worth of shopping, along with an increase in the number of tourists from other GCC countries.
Apart from the 30% increase in the daily sales revenues compared to the first edition, the second edition also directly and indirectly employed scores of Bahrainis.
The festival, co-organised by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority and Tamkeen, is held in co-operation with the partners from the public and private sector.

Related Story