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H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, president of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (BACA), received Swiss Honorary Consul-General to Bahrain Humbert Vincent Buemi, on 16 February 2016. They discussed ways of enhancing co-operation in the fields of culture and tourism, marking Manama’s celebration of 2016 as “Bahrain Your Destination”.

H.E Shaikha Mai welcomed the Swiss Consul-General’s positive initiative aiming to strengthen Bahraini-Swiss cultural and intellectual relations, highlighting the importance of cultural exchange in consolidating the values shared by the two countries and extending bridges of communication between them. H.E argued that cultural tourism is one of the largest and fastest-growing global tourism markets. Culture and creative industries are increasingly being used to promote destinations and enhance their competitiveness and attractiveness in Bahrain as part of “Bahrain Your Destination 2016” campaign.

H.E added that there are many locations now actively developing their tangible and intangible cultural assets as a means of producing comparative advantages in an increasingly competitive tourism marketplace and to create local distinctiveness in the face of globalization. H.E Shaikha Mai also briefed her guest about the initiatives taken to promote Bahrain’s identity, development strategies of arts and culture between both countries and measures to boost cultural and arts cooperation between Bahrain and Switzerland.

The Swiss Consul–General highlighted the importance of cultural exchange in enhancing rapprochement among countries and peoples, lauding the efforts deployed by BACA to diversify the cultural scene in Bahrain. The Swiss Consul–General affirmed his keen desire to cooperate with the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities to hold joint events on the sidelines of the "Bahrain Your Destination" program.