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Bahrain International Travel Expo (BITE 2009), the first business-to-consumer focused travel and tourism event in the region, will open for business tomorrow, reports Shilpa Chandran.
Organisers are confident the three-day extravaganza will attract a record number of visitors to the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre to compliment the sellout exhibitor attendance.
In the face of unprecedented industry challenges including the global economic downturn and recent pandemic scares, Magnum Events and Exhibitions Management (MEEM) says it has pulled out all of the stops for this year's BITE.
Jamil Wafa, founder and group chairman of Magnum Holding, the parent company of MEEM, said: "BITE 2009 is about invigorating the travel and tourism industry. Consumers love to travel. They need escapes from the doldrums of the modern world.
"By focusing on business-to-consumer relationships at BITE 2009, we will bring our consumers' excitement, curiosity, and passion for travel to our exhibition. And already you can see the effect - all our exhibitor stalls have sold out!"
The 100 stalls at this year's exhibition will feature international, regional, and local tourism boards and businesses from more than 40 countries.
Under the patronage of Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince of Bahrain and Chairman of Bahrain's Economic Development Board (EDB), and with the full support of the EDB and the Ministry of Culture and Information - Tourism Affairs, BITE 2009 will feature a dazzling array of on and offsite performances, as well as special offers for consumers to enjoy.
Tomorrow evening renowned Egyptian singer, Medhat Saleh, will open BITE's slate of performances at The Diplomat Radisson SAS. BITE 2009's Guest Nation of Honour is Egypt and the show is sure to be a musical extravaganza. Egypt will be sending a 35-member delegation led by Egypt's Minister of Tourism, Zuhair Garana, to further promote the country's history and heritage at the expo.
The onsite events will include shows by dancers from Azerbaijan, a Syrian dance troupe, a group of performers to be flown in by Qatar Airways who will showcase the local costume, culture, and dance of the airline's four newest destinations - Amritsar and Goa, India, Australia and the US, plus Italian folk dancers.
To make the visitor experience even more lively and interactive, BITE 2009 will hold numerous raffle draws offering prize gifts such as return airfares, hotel stays including weekend specials and fine dining vouchers.
Approximately 20,000 consumers and influential travel industry executives will be found under the eaves of BITE 2009. The expo encompasses a wide variety of sectors ranging from airlines to car rental companies, conventions & exhibitions, cruiseliners, health resorts & spas, hotel accommodation providers, MICE organisers, tourist attractions, tourism boards, tourism TV channels, tour operators, travel Insurance as well as travel and tourism publications.
To support the substantial number of travel industry professionals who will be attending the expo, BITE has again organised the Hosted Buyers Programme.
It brings together key international MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) planners who are responsible for designing, organising, recommending, and making purchasing decisions for their respective events which are to be held both inside and out of their home countries.
This year, the expo runs until Saturday from 10am to 12.30pm and 3pm to 9pm. Entrance is free. For further information, please visit www.bitebahrain.com
