With the celebration of World Tourism Day, there is a lot of talk about destinations, hotels, events and tourism projects, but I believe that there is an essential element that should not be absent from this picture, which is the Gulf citizen himself.

The increasing interest we are witnessing in Bahrain and the Gulf countries today confirms that this sector is no longer linked to travel and entertainment only, but has become an important part of the economic movement, diversifying sources of income and creating opportunities.

But no matter how developed the infrastructure is and how many projects and destinations multiply, the tourist’s experience remains closely linked to the person he meets. The tourist does not only deal with the hotel and the tourist attraction, but also meets the citizen in the restaurant, market, café, or event, and may ask him about a place or need his help in a simple situation. From these details, a complete picture of the country and its people is often formed.

Here I believe that we have a very important advantage in the Gulf, which is the culture of honoring and welcoming the guest. It is a value rooted in our societies, and it can be one of the most important strengths in the Gulf tourism experience.

But the role of the citizen does not stop at good reception.
The more the citizen is present in the tourism sector, whether as an employee, project owner, service provider, or producer of a local experience, the closer the economic benefit of tourism becomes to the community. The tourist does not spend only on hotels and flights, but also on restaurants, cafes, markets, transportation, entertainment, and various products and services, and here the circle of beneficiaries from his presence expands.

From this standpoint, the impact of tourism on the gross domestic product is not only linked to increasing the number of visitors, but rather to our ability to transform their presence into an economic movement that benefits the largest possible number of sectors, projects and individuals.

Even a citizen who does not work directly in the tourism field remains a partner in its success. By preserving public places, respecting historical and heritage sites, supporting local projects and products, courteous treatment of visitors, and presenting a beautiful image of his homeland.

I believe that the next stage in Gulf tourism needs to establish a simple concept: tourism is a shared responsibility, and its return is also shared.
The state can provide the infrastructure, the private sector can invest, and the competent authorities can market the destination, but the citizen is the one who gives the place its soul and identity.

On World Tourism Day, as Bahrain and the Gulf countries continue to develop their tourism destinations and experiences, we must remember that the citizen is not a spectator of this development, but rather a true partner in it.

The most beautiful memory a tourist brings back from the Gulf may be a simple situation that brought him together with a person who lived there, and from here begins the tourism we want.