MANAMA: Leading members of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry in Bahrain have acknowledged the key role Gulf tourists have played in sustaining the neighboring nation’s economy during a critical phase.
“We want to extend our special thanks to citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council states for continuing to visit us and for actively supporting us as we grappled with the negative publicity in the world media,” said Isa Hassani, head of tourism marketing at the Ministry of Culture. “We have seen an upswing in tourist arrivals.”
Hassani was among a select group of topnotch travel and tourism industry leaders taking part in a forum organized by SKAL International Bahrain which turned 40 this year.
“Bahrain is not only safe, but it is pulsating with cultural activity,” said SKAL Bahrain President Mohamed Buzizi in his opening remarks. “Nothing has changed, and Bahrain and Bahrainis know no other way but to make our guests comfortable.”
Jamil Wafa, a widely respected businessman and Unitag Group founder and executive chairman, agreed with Buzizi. He blamed the world media for blowing things out of proportion.
“Yes, there have been skirmishes, but the media have gone wild with their reports,” he said. “Yes, this is a safe place, and if it weren’t, we wouldn’t be here.”
Wafa blamed embassies of European nations for creating an atmosphere of fear with their travel advisories. “They are the real culprits … there is no need for them to issue these circulars advising their
citizens not to venture out at evening time; all this fits neatly into the agenda of the troublemakers and a sensational media,” he said.
William A. Torresala, chief operating officer at Hala bint Mubarak Al-Suwaiket Trading Est., said there is no place like Bahrain in the world.
“I have been to various places and cities around the world, and I can say with personal experience that Bahrain is among the safest places,” he said. “The negative publicity unleashed in the world media has led to people asking how things are in Bahrain these days.”
Daniel M. Naoumovitch, chief executive officer, Sabre Travel Network, was forthright in his assessment. “I travel extensively in the region but I and my wife find Bahrain the best,” he said. “This is the reason why we call Bahrain home, but unfortunately this is not what the outside world is hearing.”
Naoumovitch called for setting up a fund to conduct a sustained public relations exercise to promote and sell Bahrain. “We are ready to contribute to this fund because we own this brand and it is our duty to promote it,” he said.
Abdullah M. Abo Khamseen, director and executive general manager at Kanoo Travel, acknowledged the generosity and large-heartedness of Bahrainis.
“Bahrain is like a second home to all Saudis,” he said. “We will continue to come here, and as the speakers here have pointed out, the traffic across
the King Fahd Causeway has only increased.”
Abo Khamseen called for concerted efforts on both sides in streamlining the traffic at the 25 km causeway that links Alkhobar with Manama. “With all
the technology at our disposal, we need to find ways to minimize the waiting time at the causeway.”
Saeed Al-Hajri, general manager of Qatar’s Ali Bin Ali Travel Bureau, said he was going back with good memories. “The message that I am taking from this visit to Bahrain is that it is a safe country,” he said. “I will tell my people not to believe in those stories that they hear in the international media; they are all lies.” Buzizi thanked the guests from GCC countries and honored them at SKAL Bahrain’s colorful 40th anniversary celebrations. “We value our guests, and
this is what SKAL is all about,” he said. “It is a professional organization of industry leaders dedicated to the promotion of global tourism and friendship.”
Saudis keep Bahrain tourism industry thriving
Saudis keep Bahrain tourism industry thriving
‘Cake not hate’ campaign becomes ‘Dates not hate’ in Madinah
- Dan said he was very impressed by Saudi hospitality and that his family was warmly welcomed
- He said being in Madinah exposed him to the true diversity of Islam
LONDON: A British autistic and non-verbal boy who has been visiting UK mosques and distributing cakes to promote solidarity amid an increase in far-right support in the country has taken his message of love to Madinah.
Joshua Harris, or “The Joshie-Man” as the 12-year-old is known to his social media fans, has handed out hundreds of his baked goods to worshipers at mosques in major British cities over the last few months.
The “Cake not hate” campaign came about after an Islamophobic attack on a mosque in his home city of Peterborough in October 2025.
Harris and his father visited Masjid Darassalaam, the mosque that was targeted, with cakes that the boy had baked and distributed them to the congregation soon after the attack. Since then, Harris has visited dozens of mosques in the UK.
On a recent trip to the Middle East, he and his father visited Madinah. In a local twist that pays tribute to the holy city’s famous date varieties including ajwa and ambar, Harris handed out dates to people in the courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque. The “Cake not hate” campaign became “Dates not hate” for Saudi Arabia.
“He was greeted really, really warmly. There were some really touching moments where people were kissing his hands and his head. It was really lovely,” his father, Dan Harris, said.
Dan, the founder of global charity Neurodiversity in Business, said being in Madinah exposed him to the true diversity of Islam.
“We met people from all around the world. It was amazing. It’s like the United Nations there, you get people from different countries and it just goes to show you that the Muslim community, or the Ummah more generally, is not a homogeneous group,” he said.
“We saw people from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and it was really interesting for us.”
Dan said his visit to Madinah, considered the second holiest city in Islam after Makkah for Muslims, was “profound and life-changing.”
He added: “I would say it’s my favourite city in the world due to the peace and tranquillity I felt there.”
Dan added that he was very impressed by Saudi hospitality: “Everywhere we went, people were taking down my number and insisting that we come for dinner, insisting they pick us up from the location. They were extremely attentive to Joshie as well, making sure his needs were met. We felt a great sense of welcome, something Saudi Arabia is known for.”
