Manama, August 24 (BNA): The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority’s (BTEA) CEO, Sarah Ahmed Buhiji, conducted a discussion with a group of young people who were taking part in the third iteration of the “Future Bet” program, which was organized by the Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPD).
BTEA CEO highlights human capital’s role in sustainable tourism growth
The CEO of BTEA emphasized that one of the Authority’s key goals is investing in human capital, pointing out that skills development and capacity-building are the cornerstones of any long-term growth and qualitative change in the travel and tourist industry. According to her, this is in accordance with the objectives of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s comprehensive development plan, which is headed by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as well as the orders of Prime Minister and Crown Prince His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Throughout the conversation, Buhiji emphasized how BTEA helps to boost domestic and foreign travel as well as the expansion of the national economy.
In addition to the industry’s active role in fostering entrepreneurship and generating attractive job and investment possibilities, she emphasized the Authority’s plans to build tourism infrastructure and host significant events and exhibitions.
Noting that the Authority’s vision and future plans are in line with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, she emphasized the significance of incorporating young people in the tourist industry’s advancement and educating them about the lucrative opportunities it presents for the future.
According to Buhiji, tourism is a major force behind overall development because it offers citizens high-quality opportunities in a variety of fields, draws in both domestic and foreign capital, and sustains an integrated ecosystem that includes the hospitality, transportation, retail, food and beverage, creative, and related services sectors.
She also talked about the goals of the Tourism Strategy 2022–2026, which was introduced as a roadmap with four primary objectives: diversifying the tourism offering, expanding target markets, boosting the GDP contribution of tourism, and establishing the Kingdom of Bahrain as a global tourism center.
BTEA is actively managing tourism programs and projects, planning regional and global events, and marketing Bahrain as a top travel destination, she continued.
The “Future Bet” initiative seeks to keep participants empowered and educated about the Kingdom’s all-encompassing development process, which embodies the goals of His Majesty the King and the Kingdom of Bahrain Constitution.
Along with providing them with the necessary information and skills, encouraging teamwork, and preparing them to present innovative and progressive projects that advance the Kingdom, it also seeks to educate them on the Sustainable Development Goals and how they relate to Bahrain‘s Economic Vision 2030. The curriculum also emphasizes developing leadership abilities, encouraging discussion and viewpoint sharing, and training young people for active participation in national development.
Building on the success of the first two editions, the third edition includes a series of discussion sessions with participating youngsters that bring together ministers, high-ranking officials, and notable leaders to debate problems that are important to the Kingdom’s present and future.
