Bahrain’s Tourism Minister, HE Mrs. Fatima bint Jaffar Al Sairafi, recently met with Mr. Jurriaen Sleijster, President of MCI Group, during the ICCA conference in Abu Dhabi. The purpose of the meeting was to explore opportunities for collaboration to attract prestigious international events, conventions, and exhibitions to Bahrain. Both parties discussed utilizing innovative strategies to target international and regional audiences and position Bahrain as a top destination for conferences and expos.
The focus of the meeting was on building on the recently signed MOU between Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB) and MCI Middle East for joint collaboration. They emphasized the importance of targeting sectors related to Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s Tourism Strategy 2022-2026. The aim is to prioritize Bahrain as a preferred location for MCI-managed events and secure significant new opportunities at EWB.
There was a mutual agreement to enhance the MICE industry and expand offerings to attract high-profile conventions and exhibitions that align with Bahrain’s broader objectives. The meeting identified promising economic sectors for event acquisition, emphasizing the importance of thorough market research and analysis to evaluate the feasibility of potential conferences and exhibitions. The collaboration between MCI Group and EWB aims to elevate business tourism in Bahrain in the long term.
Participants in the meeting included Mr. Alexander John, Regional Director of MCI Group, Mr. Ajay Bhojwani, Managing Director of MCI Middle East, and the EWB team. The commitment to collaboration was reinforced, extending beyond MCI’s regional office to its international operations. This aligns with Bahrain’s efforts to elevate its position in the MICE industry and work with regional and international event organizers to ensure a thriving future for the sector in the Kingdom. The focus is on strategically targeting priority sectors and leveraging networks to maximize opportunities for prestigious events in Bahrain.
