
An agency in Sanabis was shut down yesterday for allegedly conducting illegal tourism activity without a proper licence, and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) added that the case has been referred to the Public Prosecution.
The authority’s Tourism Control Directorate took the action after receiving complaints that 140 Bahrainis had been left stranded in Karbala, Iraq after undertaking an unauthorised Arbaeen pilgrimage.
According to reports, the passports of the individuals were confiscated by a hotel owner in Karbala after the tour operator, who has since gone missing, failed to pay hotel fees totalling BD15,000.