From June 20 to 22, 2025, the Chinese Embassy in Bahrain and the China Cultural Center in the UAE jointly held a “Hello! China” pop-up tourism roadshow at City Center, one of the largest shopping malls in Manama, the capital of Bahrain. The opening ceremony was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Bahrain Ni Ruchi, Bahraini Minister of Tourism Fatima, President of the Bahrain-China Friendship Association Khawaja, and CEO of Gulf Air Jeffrey.
Representatives from hotel groups and travel agencies in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Dubai, along with Gulf Air staff, introduced Chinese inbound travel packages, visa-free policies, payment and tax refund conveniences. They collected feedback and contact information, distributed brochures and souvenirs, while a large screen played “Hello! China” tourism videos in a continuous loop. Local Chinese culture enthusiasts showcased lion dances, traditional dances, tea ceremonies, and kung fu fan performances, attracting many visitors to the booth. Two lucky attendees even won round-trip “Journey to China” flight tickets sponsored by Gulf Air.
Bahraini influencer Zahra said the visa-free policy China introduced for Bahrainis has thrilled the public, and many are eager to visit China. Today’s event came at the perfect time.
Minister Fatima emphasized that China is an important source market for Bahrain, and the government values tourism cooperation with China. Many Bahrainis are enthusiastic about traveling to China, and today’s event is a key step in informing the public about destinations and new facilitation measures.
This pop-up event marked the first time the China Cultural Center in the UAE entered Bahrain. It aimed to implement President Xi Jinping’s 2024 initiative to achieve 10 million China-Arab tourist visits in five years, and to align with the recent visa-free policy announcements for GCC countries at the China-ASEAN-GCC Summit, enhancing inbound tourism promotion across the Gulf.
The event was covered by Bahrain TV and CGTN Arabic.
