August 21, Manama (BNA): The national photography and videography contest, “Sustainable Tourism in Bahrain through the Eyes of Youth,” which was started on July 21 in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), the Nikon Youth Global Program MENA, and Ashrafs W.L.L., was concluded by the Ministry of Sustainable Development.
Sustainable Development Ministry concludes youth photography, videography competition on sustainable tourism
In addition to showcasing Bahrain’s national efforts in this area, the competition sought to empower young people between the ages of 15 and 35 to promote photography and videography as creative tools that promote cultural exchange and a deeper understanding of sustainability in the tourism sector, as well as to raise awareness of sustainability concepts.
Sara Ahmed Buhiji, Chief Executive Officer of the BTEA; Dana Imad Hamzah, Assistant Undersecretary for Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Sustainable Development; and Nani Mohammed Butti, Assistant Undersecretary for Support and Initiatives at the Ministry of Youth Affairs, attended the closing event, which was part of Youth City 2030.
An exhibition of participant photos and short videos showcasing the social, cultural, and environmental aspects of sustainable tourism in Bahrain kicked off the event. When officials visited the show and spoke with participants, they learned about the tales and innovative techniques that went into their work, demonstrating a high level of creativity.
A judging panel comprising members from the Ministry of Information, the BTEA, the Nikon Youth Global Program MENA, and a professional photographer from Bahrain evaluated the submissions. The top three finishers in both categories were revealed, and the artworks were praised for their uniqueness and creative merit in illustrating topics like coexistence tourism in Manama, legacy tourism, and marine and environmental tourism.
During the awards event, Ashrafs W.L.L. gave BD 500 and a BD 100 coupon to the first place winners in each category, BD 300 and a BD 50 voucher to the second place winners, and BD 200 and a BD 50 voucher to the third place winners. All participants received certificates, and the winners also had the opportunity to train with the Nikon Youth Global Program MENA.
The competition’s success, according to the Ministry of Sustainable Development, demonstrates Bahrain’s dedication to boosting youth involvement in the SDGs and to showcasing national identity through the arts and media on a local, regional, and global scale. It also emphasized how crucial it is to keep working with partners in the public and business sectors in order to empower young people and help them develop their abilities.
The ministry thanked the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the BTEA, the Nikon Youth Global Program MENA, and Ashrafs W.L.L. for their collaboration, stating that their assistance was crucial to the initiative’s success and the identification of young talent.
Partners and participants talked about how proud they were to be part of an initiative that gave young people a chance to showcase their creativity in photography and videography. They also mentioned how these programs help Bahrain become more visible both domestically and abroad and develop a talented generation that can contribute to sustainable development with fresh ideas and skills.
M.S.A., A.S.
