When it comes to regulatory compliance in Bahrain’s hospitality and tourism sectors, strict penalties are being imposed to ensure adherence to the rules. The focus is on five key sectors: hotels, furnished apartments, restaurants, tour guiding, and travel and tourism agencies. For hotels and similar establishments, fines ranging from 6,000 to 8,000 BHD are imposed for operating without a valid or expired license, with possible closure as well.
Unapproved activities such as transferring or leasing licenses can result in fines between 3,000 and 5,000 BHD. Offering tips without authorization carries penalties of 8,000 BHD, while non-compliance with security measures and unauthorized advertising attract fines of 2,000 BHD and 300 BHD, respectively. Furnished apartments operating without a license or with an expired or revoked license face fines between 4,000 and 5,000 BHD.
Penalties for failure to ensure the safety of pools, maintain surveillance cameras, and keep CCTV footage can range from 2,000 to 4,000 BHD. Non-compliance with building and equipment maintenance protocols attracts a 3,000 BHD fine, while failure to adhere to tourism service fee regulations and electronic invoice requirements can lead to penalties of 1,000 to 3,000 BHD. Failure to display the license certificate or tourism classification plaque in a visible location can result in a 100 BHD fine.
Restaurants catering to tourists that harm the national reputation or the profession can face penalties between 4,000 and 6,000 BHD. Failure to connect the restaurant’s system to the tourism electronic statistics system will result in a fine of 3,000 BHD. Non-payment of hotel service fees on time can incur a penalty of 5,000 BHD. Non-compliance with restaurant operating hours can lead to fines ranging from 500 to 3,000 BHD, while failure to adhere to tourism-specific standards can result in fines between 100 and 2,000 BHD.
Tour guides operating without a license or after its expiration face a 200 BHD fine. Non-compliance with standards of professionalism, ethical conduct, honesty, and courtesy can result in a penalty of 100 to 300 BHD. Failure to display the tour guide card while working can lead to a fine of 50 BHD. For administrative offices and tourism and travel agencies, penalties include fines for organizing diving trips without ensuring participants have the appropriate license and for failing to provide licensed instructors if participants do not have the international license. Violations also include fines for not including all necessary details and conditions about services provided in advertisements, as well as a hefty 100,000 BHD fine for losing any of the licensing requirements during the office’s period of operation.
In conclusion, Bahrain is cracking down on regulatory compliance in the hospitality and tourism sectors, with strict penalties in place to ensure adherence to the rules. From hotels and furnished apartments to restaurants, tour guiding activities, and travel agencies, violators can face significant fines for operating without a valid license, engaging in unauthorized activities, or failing to meet safety and service standards. It is essential for businesses in these sectors to stay updated on regulations and ensure full compliance to avoid facing these penalties.
