17 October 2015
GCC Culture Ministers’ Lauded Bahrain’s Cultural Tourism Passport Initiative
H.E Shaikha Mai Al-Khalifa, Bahrain Authority for Culture & National Heritage president has participated at the 21st Ministers of Culture meeting held in Doha, Qatar on 15 October 2015 to launch a joint concept for boosting the Gulf identity during 2016. During her participation, H.E. introduced Bahrain’s initiative with regard to the Cultural Tourism Passport, launched by BACA, to promote cultural and historical tourist attractions in Bahrain.
The 21st meeting of GCC ministers of culture discussed ways and means of boosting Gulf identity in November, 2016, as a launching point for more activities and events pertaining to this concept. The meeting also lauded the initiative of Bahrain’s BACA president for the Culture Tourism Passport which is seeking to promote tourism and attract visitors to Bahrain’s cultural sites, affirming that the initiative forms a distinguished model for monitoring cultural and historic sites in Bahrain. The meeting, he said, dealt with several topics pertaining to the joint cultural action among GCC countries to boost cooperation and integration inside these countries.
The Cultural Tourism Passport, launched in October 2015, is an invitation for citizens and visitors to have a taste of Bahrain's long-standing heritage and see 21 cultural and tourism milestones. Visitors are requested to return their passports to the Bahrain National Museum after sealing all the pages, which feature the chosen cultural and tourism sites, so as to enter the draw on a trip abroad. The programme is part of BACA-led efforts to promote Bahrain on the map of tourism as a prized cultural hub in the region and the world. The guide-like document features a map detailing 21 of the country’s most iconic and historical landmarks, monuments, and cultural sites, which passport holders can “tick off” by receiving a Dilmun seal stamp from staff at each of the attractions.
The scheme is open to anyone aged 18 and over and the 21 sites are Bahrain National Museum, Bu Maher Fort and Visitor Centre, Bahrain National Theatre, Bahrain Fort, Bahrain Fort Site Museum, Riffa Fort, the Tree of Life and Visitor Centre, Sheikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Centre for Culture and Research, Bab Al Bahrain and Visitor Centre, Al Hedaya Al Khalifia School, A’ali burial mounds, Saar settlement, Bait Al Quran, Mohammed bin Fares Hall, Al Qaysariya Suq, Ibrahim Al Arrayed House of Poetry, Khalaf House, Khamis Mosque, Barbar Temple, Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa House and Bin Matar House.
