Bahrain to host Routes World 2024 global aviation event

Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) has announced that Routes World, a conference and exhibition for the aviation industry, will take place in the Kingdom of Bahrain for the first time in 2024. BAC, the operating and managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA) signed the agreement on the second day of the Bahrain International Airshow, 9 -11 November 2022. The signing was attended by His Excellency Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, the minister of Industry and Commerce and Gulf Air Group chairman; Captain Waleed Al Alawi, Gulf Air CEO; and Dr Nasser Qaedi, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority CEO. According to BAC, Routes World 2024 is expecting over 2,500 delegates from global airlines, airports, and tourism authorities. Speaking at a press conference at the Bahrain International Air Show, Steven Small, director of Routes, said: “Hosting Routes World 2024 will support Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 of becoming a globally competitive and sustainable economic centre. “Increased air connectivity delivers substantial economic benefits to a destination – driving trade, tourism, investment, labour supply and market efficiency. Having recently completed the Bahrain International Airport Modernisation Programme (AMP), this is a destination set to further diversify its tourism offerings.” BAC CEO, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah added: “(The event) will be the perfect platform to showcase Bahrain, and why BIA was recently named the World’s Best New Airport. “(It will) demonstrate the advanced capabilities of our new Passenger Terminal and support our goal of attracting more than 14 million visitors each year by defining new global routes and air services.” According to the destination, over US$30bn worth of investments in strategic projects (including infrastructure and tourism initiatives) are set to catalyse growth and reinforce Bahrain as an international tourism hub. It hopes that its new Passenger Terminal Building will bring the Kingdom closer to its economic diversification and sustainability goals. The destination states that it has experienced growth in the financial services, technology innovation, manufacturing, and logistics sectors in recent years, leading to it hosting the 28th global route development forum in 2023. The Routes World conference is set to deliver long-term economic benefits for Bahrain, including the growth of the city’s airport and increased tourism activity.