‘Shop Bahrain’ shopping festival opens Dec 24
KUWAIT: The second edition of the Bahrain Shopping Festival ‘Shop Bahrain’, the largest event in the kingdom, will be held from December 24, 2015 to January 23, 2016. A delegation from Bahrain is visiting Kuwait as part of a roadshow to promote the festival. “The 30-day nationwide festival will celebrate various elements from the culture, tourism, and rich hospitality that the kingdom is renowned for, along with a unique shopping experience filled with promotions and prizes,” said Shop Bahrain Director Nawaf Al-Koheji during a press conference held yesterday at the Jumeirah Hotel and Resort.
Attractive prizes and special activities are awaiting visitors. “During the festival, shoppers will be able to benefit from the special deals offered by the registered retail outlets. They will also be able to avail the opportunity of winning fabulous prizes by entering a weekly raffle draw. For every purchase worth BD 10 or more, shoppers will be electronically registered in a loyalty scheme. They can also increase their chance of winning prizes based on their shopping frequency,” Koheji said.
Activities
Reem Tawfiqi, Marketing and Communication Director, spoke about the activities at the fest. “The year’s festival will focus on three main events. The most important of them is the ‘VIVA Shop and Skate’, which is the largest outdoor ice-skating rink in the region located at Al A’ali Shopping Complex. It will be open to the public throughout the duration of the festival, with special offers during the weekend,” she explained.
The other event is Al Riwaq’s ‘The Nest’ in the heart of the capital Manama. “The local bazaar will feature upcoming and prominent businesses and latest talents from Bahrain and the region, in addition to ‘The Taste Tour’ held in Block 338 in Adliya. Next on the festival’s calendar is the ‘Family Fair’, a two-day carnival held during the New Year’s Eve weekend at Prince Khalifa bin Salman Park, which will bring together an array of fun family activities. The festival, held on Dec 31, 2015 and Jan 1, 2016, will feature games, entertainment activities and mouth-watering cuisine,” added Tawfiqi.
“Other fun-filled attractions include in-mall activities such as bungee jumping at Al A’ali Shopping Complex, a cinema event dedicated for children as well as the ‘Kamikaze Fireflies’ show among other entertainment activities. A weekly and grand raffle draw will also be held offering visitors and residents the opportunity to win big and amazing prizes,” she concluded.
Visa procedures
According to Koheji, authorities in Bahrain have also recently eased the process and procedure of obtaining a visa to the kingdom, including visas for tourists and businessmen along with residents of Gulf countries. “Nationals from over 103 countries can now obtain a visa either online via the eVisa website (www.evisa.gov.bh) or on arrival at Bahrain International Airport. It should take around seven days to issue the visa online,” stated Koheji.
Last year, Bahrain welcomed 10 million visitors, out of which around 8 million were from the GCC. “Our key focus is to attract visitors from the Gulf region. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the kingdom and encourage them to spend a few extra days to enjoy our exciting line-up of events, which embodies the spirit of fun and celebration. Last year we witnessed a 16 percent increase in tourists, and we hope this year will see an even higher number,” Koheji said.
“The national event aims to promote links between the public and private sectors while focusing on energizing the retail and tourism sectors by bringing together an array of events and activities for the whole family to enjoy. Shop Bahrain will mirror the kingdom’s position as a welcoming, accessible, family destination with an incredibly diverse range of retail experiences from luxury malls to traditional souks to luxury boutiques coupled with unbeatable bargains and promotions,” stressed Koheji.