Small and medium sized travel agencies in Bahrain will receive a welcome break in time for the big summer holiday season through a Tamkeen (Labour Fund) Growth Assistance Programme (GAP).
Ten SME travel agencies will be able to make their mark on the holiday calendar at BITE 2009 through a co-financed deal in which Tamkeen will support their participation by bearing most of the cost.
Tamkeen's chief executive Abdulellah Al Qassimi said: "Through their participation at BITE, Bahrain travel agencies will not only pick up new business but also get valuable exposure to world trends."
Companies meeting the criteria of travel industry SMEs as laid down by Bahraini commercial laws can apply through Talal Abu Ghazaleh which handles Tamkeen's Enterprise Development Scheme. Participants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis and will pay only 20 per cent to participate.
Meanwhile, Tamkeen, BTI and ABTTA training programmes are currently falling into place to train an initial 80 Bahrainis and preparations are underway with various stakeholders to promote them during BITE 2009.