Key members of the Kingdom of Bahrain�s tourism industry came together at this year�s World Travel Market in London, UK, to raise the profile of Bahrain as a leading tourism destination and to offer the UK travel trade the chance to discover the Pearl of the Arabia for themselves.

A special competition was held on the Kingdom of Bahrain stand with the chance to win one of three luxury holidays to Bahrain including return Business Class flights from London Heathrow to Bahrain with national carrier Gulf Air and a three night luxury stay at one of three leading hotel properties: The Gulf Hotel; Banyan Tree Al-Alreen and Fraser Suites. The prize also includes a behind the scenes tour and Hummer ride experience at the Bahrain International Circuit, the renowned home of motorsport in the Middle East, and a round of golf at Bahrain�s Royal Golf Club on the new championship standard course designed by golfing legend Colin Montgomerie. To enter, visitors were asked to provide a short sentence about what inspires them about Bahrain.

The winners were chosen by His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa Bin Ali Bin Rashid Al-Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Kingdom, together with the Executive Director and Special Advisor of Bahrain�s Tourism Sector Dr Heba Aziz.

Dr Heba said: �It was amazing how many entries we had to this competition. We have discovered there is a great deal of interest in Bahrain from the UK travel trade from both a leisure and MICE tourism perspective. We have held some useful meetings here this week and look forward to building on them in 2010.

�Bahrain has something quite different to offer from our neighbours. It is a vibrant, modern Gulf country that has been able to strike a perfect balance between tradition and the 21st century. We are very proud of our rich culture and heritage which dates back over 5,000 years to the legendary Dilmun era. We very much look forward to welcoming our winners to Bahrain and showing them our small and beautiful Island,� she concluded.

Gulf Air General Manager UK and Ireland Mrs Christina Vidos said: �We are delighted to be here at World Travel Market as a key partner and supporter of Bahrain�s tourism industry. As the national carrier of Bahrain we are proud ambassadors of the Kingdom and look forward to working even more closely in 2010 to encourage more visitors from the UK to discover its charms and enjoy the warm and friendly Arabian hospitality for which Gulf Air and Bahrain are renowned for.�

ENDS

For more information please contact: Abby Smith PR Manager Europe Office: + 44 208600 7404 Mobile: + 44 7834 711 535 Fax: + 44 208600 7460 Email: abby.smith@gulfair.com