BAHRAIN’S high-end travel market is changing and travellers now prefer exotic destinations and cruises, according to an industry expert.
Destinations such as Maldives and cruises in the Mediterranean and Caribbean are high on holiday lists of high-net-worth individuals these days, says Shaikh Bader bin Salman Al Khalifa, owner and managing director of Al Kaatib Travel Agency.
Shaikh Bader, who has spent more than 26 years in Bahrain’s travel business, has seen major changes happening in the kingdom’s tourism industry.
He says people are looking for rest and relaxation, good food and a peaceful stay while planning their holidays.
The veteran admits that travel agency business has suffered during the past few years with the advent of Internet bookings and direct marketing by airlines. However, internet has made transactions a lot easier.
Al Kaatib Travel prides itself in offering bespoke travel experiences to the “cream of the market” and claims to serve the largest portion of this segment in the kingdom.
“We are an agency dealing with a niche market. Anyone who wants a personalised service comes to us. It is the hallmark of our business,” said Shaikh Bader. “We always go the extra mile.”
The agency, which deals with airline bookings, cruises, car hire, tour packages, etc., has been successful in retaining and expanding its client base despite challenging market conditions, says Shaikh Bader.
He credits the agency’s success to his highly trained and knowledgeable staff who have been with him for a long time. “They have the passion and the ability and experience to advice high-net-worth clients,” he says.
He is proud of the fact that his clients come back to him for his expert advice. He has even arranged honeymoon holidays for couples in locations as remote as Tahiti as well.
“I really like to keep in touch with clients, understand their needs and suggest them good options,” he adds. His vast first-hand travel experiences come in handy.
With the entry of more airlines and daily connections being offered to various destinations, people are now travelling more and short holidays have become popular. Holiday-makers are in the mood to discover as well – Latin America, the former Soviet states and the Far East.
“People did not travel so much earlier. But with more airlines connecting the region with the rest of the world, travel has become easier and prices have also come down in many sectors. People are now taking more short holidays, be it to Europe, Levant or Asian destinations.”
He continues: “Cruises are good value for money and offer great experience. I consider them five-star hotels that move. You get to see a new destination every morning. People get hooked on to cruises once they experience them and go again and again.”
Does he plan to enter the in-bound tourism sector? Shaikh Bader rules it out. “Our strong point is outbound holidays and we are not thinking of inbound tourism. It needs specialised facilities and infrastructure, and we don’t have it.”
Speaking about Arabian Travel Market (ATM), in which he will be taking part, Sheikh Bader says ATM can capitalise on the huge tourism potential available in other Gulf states by moving to other cities as well. Many of the Gulf cities now have good infrastructure to host such events, he says.
Sheikh Bader sees great potential for Bahrain’s tourism sector, which has been affected by the unrest during the last two years. “We have excellent hotels, other tourism facilities, restaurants and historical places. People who want to see history and tradition can see all of them in Bahrain and that is our advantage. If things get resolved, we will get our share of the European and Far Eastern markets,” he says.
He had special praise for the Tourism Affairs’ efforts in promoting Bahrain in other parts of the world, by participating in various expos.
By Sree Bhat