Tourism in Bahrain

Bahrain receives four million tourists a year. Most visitors are from Arab states of the Persian Gulf but there are an increasing number of tourists from outside the region.

The Lonely Planet guide describes Bahrain as "an excellent introduction to the Gulf"[1] because of its Arab heritage and the reputation that it used to enjoy as safe and modern. The ancient civilisation of Dilmun, which dominated trade between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley Civilization, was centred in Bahrain. The inhabitants of Dilmun left behind settlements and temples and tens of thousands of burial mounds which dot the landscape.

Tourists are attracted to Bahrain for the weather, unique ambience (which is completely different from the average European package experience), diving and water sports, local culture and the relaxed friendly atmosphere. Bahrain also enjoys a liberal social climate, good shopping and minimal travel restrictions.

Forts

The island is home to many castles including Bahrain Fort, also known as the Portuguese Fort. It is located near Karranah, a small village on the northern coast of Bahrain Island. The fort has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 2005. Archaeologists have also discovered six distinct foundations, which have been dated to 2300 BC.

Arad Fort is located on Muharraq Island in the town of Arad. It is initially built by Arabs towards the end of the 16th century. The fort was captured by the Portuguese around 1559 and changed hands again in 1635 after being captured by Omanis.

Sheikh Salman bin Ahmed Al Fateh Fort or Riffa Fort is located in Riffa. This 19th-century fort was built for its strategic location, on an escarpment overlooking the Hunanaiya valley.

Islands

It is a luxury residencial project which is located in southernmost part of the country

Malls

Museums

The Bahrain National Museum has a collection of artifacts from the Kingdom's history dating back to the island's first human inhabitation 5000 years ago.

Beit Al Qur'an, one of the island's most distinctive pieces of architecture, is home to a rare collection of Islamic manuscripts, prints and books. It is located in Hoora, part of the capital, Manama.

The Oil Museum is located near Jabal Ad Dukhan. It was built in 1992 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first discovery of oil in the Persian Gulf, it exhibits old photographs, drilling equipment and a working model of an oil rig.

Currency Museum

Currency Museum housed in the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), located in the Diplomatic Area of Manama. The history of a country is often best represented in the evolution of its money. Never was this truer than when delving into the history and monies of Bahrain as so clearly demonstrated in the recent opening, to worldwide acclaim, of Bahrain's currency museum. Some four years in the making, the museum opened in February 1999 and has attracted a stream of visitors ever since. Visitors are led through a multi-media tour of the currency history of Bahrain demonstrating the central role it has played throughout the history of the Persian Gulf. Some of the rarest coins in the Arab world are to be found in the museum.

In addition to its coin and Bahraini banknotes in the museum a new permanent stand of the first banknotes and coins issued by the central banks of all the Gulf Cooperation Council countries has been added.

Tourism developments

The government of Bahrain has encouraged tourism development and contributes to large-scale tourism projects. Resorts planned in Bahrain include the Al Areen Resort, Dannat Hawar, Durrat Al Bahrain, Amwaj Islands, Lulu Island, Riffa Views,Diyar Al Muharraq and Bahrain Bay. Al Marsa, which means 'jetty' or 'harbour' in Arabic is a floating island that is being built with an investment of US$70 million.

At the 2009 Grand Prix, BIC announced a collaboration with Bahrain to develop land next to the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit.[2]

The Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park is located next to Al Areen Wildlife Park within the Southern Governorate.[3]

Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park

Bahrain’s US$50 million Lost Paradise of Dilmun (LPOD) opened in September 2007, set in 77,000 square meters of desert oasis- The largest stand alone waterpark in the Middle East. It features 18 slides, pools, fountains and attractions. Its theme is from Bahrain’s heritage (the Dilmun empire). The Lost Paradise of Dilmun and the adjacent 5-star Al Areen Palace are the first components in the US1.3 billion Al Areen Development.

Tickets prices are based on height; over 1.2m (15 BHD) under 1.2m (7 BHD)

See also

References

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Bahrain.
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