The private sector was yesterday urged to help increase the contribution of tourism to the Gross National Product (GDP), which currently stands at around 16 per cent. Information Minister Dr Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar said the sector was capable of increasing tourism's contribution to the economy by organising specialised exhibitions promoting investment opportunities. He was speaking at the opening of the International Health Tourism (IHT) Exhibition at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre yesterday. The three-day exhibition, which is the only exposition promoting health tourism within the region, was organised by Amadeus International Fairs Group. A total of 65 exhibitors from 11 countries from the GCC and Austria, Germany, Thailand, Egypt, India, Turkey, Morocco and Iran are taking part in the event. Eleven of the companies are from Bahrain. Amadeus International Fairs Group general manager Abdul Monem Sadeq said Bahrain was becoming an important arena for medical services in the region and a health tourism destination in its own right.

"In Bahrain we are working as per government instructions and strategy and we are planning to have health resorts so that we can be a health destination," he told the GDN. "Bahrain wants to be the hub and arena for medical services in the region."

Mr Sadeq said Bahrain was already playing an important role for health tourism by hosting the expo the fourth year. The expo targets exhibitors with infrastructure and facilities to receive medical care seekers from overseas, in addition to comprising healthy tourism potential. Exhibitors include hospitals, clinics, medical organisations, health resorts and spas, travel agents who offer health tourism packages, airlines, medical referrers, tourism promotion boards, hotels with special health facilities, health ministries and specialised publications. Mr Sadeq said IHT 2006 provided exhibitors the opportunity to create long-term business relationships by showcasing their products and services, as well as educating visitors of their advantages. He said it was a unique forum for effective networking, allowing doctors, professors and other experts in the medical field to exchange ideas and expertise. "This exhibition is an opportunity for people to meet medical professionals in all fields, have free consultations and find out the pricing of treatment," said Mr Sadeq.

Posted: Tuesday, December 26, 2006 Manama

A new BD1"It's an opportunity for Health Ministry officials to meet their counterparts and sign agreements for the training of medical teams. Yesterday two German clinics signed an agreement with a Bahrain hospital for partnership in the field of plastic surgery and rehabilitation and physiotherapy.We are lacking in the field of kidney and liver transplants, we don't have real speciality here and in the field of radiology, so there are opportunities for partnerships there."

2.9 million ($34.22 million) state-of-the-art resort for the elderly will soon be built in Busaiteen. The Al Farabi Care Centre, approved by the Muharraq Municipal Council at its weekly meeting yesterday, will include a four-star hotel, six apartment buildings, a commercial complex, health spas, clubs and clinics as well as open green areas and shaded parking. It will be built by Al Farabi Real Estate Company in an area of 88,462 sq m. Council chairman Mohammed Hammada said that Al Farabi was expecting over 20 per cent profits in the first year of the project. "The company is expecting BD2.8 million from its elderly care units, BD2.75 million from the hotel's revenue and BD13 million from selling the apartments in its buildings to the elderly," he said. "This will encourage medical tourism in the country, considering that this facility is not just new to Bahrain, but to other GCC countries. The private sector has been neglecting the elderly sector for a long time, but this project will certainly put them back on the map.This private establishment will help provide high quality care to Bahrainis and visitors, better than those provided by the government, according to the investors." He said that such projects were becoming popular in developed countries. Hammada said a study has been conducted by the company on the number of elderly in the country. "It says that 5.5pc of Bahrainis are above 60 years according to 2001 statistics, which is expected to increase to 20pc by 2025," he said. "This means that the elderly would need more care and with the government's limited resources, this project is a good investment for the future."

Source : www.bahrainembassy.org