Business & Finance Club - Manama :  A Tourism Authority will be set up in Bahrain as part of plans by the Kingdom's supreme committee of tourism to regulate the sector and toughen punitive measures against violating hotels.

The Culture Ministry is preparing a law to be referred to parliament.

The decision will be published in the Official Gazette soon, under-secretary Dr Isa Amin. The 10-member watchdog will be in charge of the tourism sector, operating as an independent entity under the ministry.

It will comprise three members representing hotels and travel and tourism agencies and the remaining will represent government bodies. It will be headed by a chairman. The tourism sector under-secretary will be chief executive.

All tourism employees will be transferred under it, Dr Amin said.

He said the ministry is also in the process of setting up a Supreme Council for Tourism. The minister, Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, will submit a memorandum to His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa