Bahrain registered a significant leap in ad spending during 2004. A total of $116.207 million was spent by the Kingdom’s business sector last year. The figure represented a 34.9 per cent rise which is the third biggest in a decade for Bahrain.
Bahrain chapter president of International Advertising Association (IAA) Khamis Al Muqla said “The biggest leap was in the January-September 2004 period when the ad spending increased by 42.7 per cent over the same period in 2003. Print media led the field as a preferred advertising medium, taking three-fifths of revenues, with 49 per cent going to newspapers and 11 per cent to magazines.
“Television accounted for 38 per cent followed by 2 per cent for cinema, radio and outdoor media,” said Al Muqla, according to Bahrain Tribune.
“Ad spending in GCC markets grew by 38 per cent last year as compared with 2003, from $2.8 billion to $3.9 billion. Pan-Arab expenditure rose from $1.38 billion in 2003 to $1.93 billion last year, representing an increase of 40.01 per cent,” he said.
Communications, banking and financial services led others in terms of advertising with tourism (hotels and entertainment), airlines and travel agencies coming in the second block and insurance and real estate third.
