Budget for tourism faces tough scrutiny

TDT | Manama

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A demand for a full breakdown of public spending on tourism festivals and exhibitions since 2023 sparked a sharp exchange in Parliament.

The debate followed comments by Tourism Minister, Her Excellency Fatima Al Sairafi, who said the private sector funds and runs a large share of events, making it unfair to focus solely on budgets managed by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA).

MP Basema Mubarak told the Council of Representatives that backing tourism should not weaken scrutiny, and asked for clear figures on budgets, outgoings, payments to event firms and the measured return.

“Our support for tourism does not mean disabling oversight, nor does it mean we close our eyes to the legitimate question about public funds,” she said.

Exhibitions

H.E. Al Sairafi said many events and exhibitions are carried out with private partners, with the ministry and the BTEA providing support alongside them.

“A large part of the events and exhibitions held in the Kingdom are organised through cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority on one side, and the private sector on the other,” she said.

The minister pointed to revenue growth since the tourism plan for 2022 to 2024 was launched.

“Since the launch of the tourism strategy for 2022–2024, tourism revenues have risen by around 27 per cent,” the Minister said, linking that rise to the Economic Recovery Plan announced in 2021.

She also cited tourism’s share of the economy, saying it stands at about 6.8 per cent of GDP, and said visitor numbers have climbed, with annual growth running between 15 and 20 per cent.

Mubarak said MPs had backed events that helped drive spending across hotels, restaurants, transport and retail, but said the figures still mattered.

“It is a right to ask: how much was spent, how much came in, and does the return match the cost?” she said.

Ceiling

She asked what budget was set for tourism events from January 2024 to December 2025, whether the approved ceiling was kept to, and if any overrun took place, how much it was and which budget line covered it.

The lawmaker also asked for the total sums paid to organising companies and if the economic return was measured.

“Transparency is not a luxury; it is a constitutional duty,” she said.

H.E. Al Sairafi said the state’s role is to regulate and ensure the needed groundwork is in place, while the private sector remains the main operator.

She said support can include funding, as well as logistics and marketing help, alongside work to ensure venues and wider tourism facilities can support a fuller calendar.

Mubarak also raised the issue of jobs linked to events, saying MPs had seen young Bahrainis helping as volunteers.

She thanked them for their efforts and said they were “the real face behind the success of any event,” while pressing for clearer detail on costs and returns.