Germany Returns To Bahrain
Bahrain integral to Germany’s Gulf tourism plan
TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com
Germany’s tourism board is set to launch its much-anticipated return to Bahrain today, unveiling the ‘Germany Roadshow in Bahrain’ as part of a renewed push to strengthen ties with the Kingdom and highlight new travel opportunities across the Gulf region.
The roadshow will showcase the latest updates from Destination Germany, introduce new travel connections, and present GCC-focused campaigns while bringing together representatives from German destinations, airlines, hotels, and destination management companies.
Renewed Presence
GNTO GCC Director Yamina Sofo told The Daily Tribune that the decision to bring the roadshow back to Bahrain follows steady growth in Gulf travel to Germany, with the Kingdom forming a significant part of that momentum.
She said expanded flight schedules and stronger hub connections are making trips easier and more frequent, creating the right time to return in person to Bahrain to brief partners on new products ranging from city–nature combinations to family- and halal-friendly services.
Sofo explained that the roadshow will help align joint marketing plans for 2025–26, deepen ties with Bahrain’s travel trade and media, and convert rising interest into year-round, higher-quality travel to Germany. “It allows us to share practical planning tools, including the Halal Travel Guide, and to strengthen cooperation that turns interest into bookings,” she said.
GCC Strategy
Describing Bahrain as an integral part of Germany’s broader Gulf tourism strategy, Sofo said it is a quality-seeking market with strong travel propensity and close connections to regional hubs that efficiently link to Germany’s gateways.
By engaging Bahrain alongside other GCC countries, GNTO aims to diversify demand beyond the largest source markets, encourage year-round travel, and promote balanced itineraries that combine cities with nature, wellness, shopping, and culture.
She said GNTO works closely with Bahraini travel partners on co-operative marketing, product training, and Arabic-first content so agents can build privacy-minded, family-friendly, rail-connected trips.
“Bahrain helps deepen our Gulf footprint, spread visitors across more German regions, and convert interest into longer stays and repeat visits,” she noted.
Tailored Message
Sofo said the roadshow’s key message to Bahraini travel partners and media is that Germany is easy to reach, easy to navigate, and rich in choice for Bahraini travellers. Strong Gulf–Germany flight schedules and quick onward rail links, she said, make multi-city itineraries simple and time-efficient.
“We are tailoring the experience to GCC needs with Arabic-friendly information, privacy-minded stays, family facilities, and expanding halal dining,” she said. “Year-round, travellers can choose cool summer lakes and mountains, colourful autumn routes, festive winter breaks, and spring cityplus-nature escapes that avoid peak crowds.”
Culturally, she said, Germany offers more than 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites, major museums, festivals, and vibrant cities such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Dresden. Sustainability, she added, is being made practical through certified climate-friendly cities, eco-stays, and car-free itineraries. “Above all, we are partnership-first: through co-ops, training, and toolkits that convert demand into visits,” Sofo said.
Shifting Trends
According to GNTO GCC, visitor preferences from the Gulf have evolved since the office’s last outreach in Bahrain. Sofo said travellers now seek more personalised, value-for-quality trips and show growing interest in multi-city rail itineraries, shoulder-season travel in spring and autumn, and wellness or medical-wellness experiences.
While shopping remains strong, she said travellers increasingly combine it with cultural and nature-based activities, prioritising privacy, space, and family-friendly environments.
Cultural Connection
GNTO GCC’s sustainability and cultural campaigns are being localised to appeal to travellers from Bahrain and the wider GCC. Sofo said the two core campaigns - ‘Simply Feel Good’, which promotes sustainable, car-free choices, and ‘Cultureland Germany’, which showcases iconic and contemporary culture - are being tailored with Arabic content, family-first itineraries, and clear planning tools.
She added that the new Halal Travel Guide is a key enabler for this localisation, helping GCC visitors plan confidently across Germany’s cultural hotspots and natural landscapes. The guide, free to download from the GNTO website, is regularly updated as offerings expand.
Future Engagement
Sofo confirmed that the office intends to make Bahrain a regular stop in its future GCC roadshow calendar. “Our aim is sustained engagement- subject to partner demand and calendar fit - so Bahrain features more regularly alongside our other GCC cities,” she said. Follow-up trainings, media briefings, and co-operative marketing will continue to translate interest into bookings and strengthen ties between Germany and Bahrain’s tourism sectors.
Related Posts