Kuwait Tourism in 2017: “Promoting Tourism from Saudi Arabia is Our Top Priority”

Interview with Faisal Al-Duraie, Director of Research & Tourism Information at the Ministry of Information – Tourism Sector

What is your position and what are the responsibilities and duties of your office?

I am the Director of Research and Tourism Information. We belong to the Ministry of Information and we are concerned with the tourism sector. We mostly deal with foreign bodies, such as the GCC, the WTO, and Arabian countries. We are always in contact with these foreign bodies and we cooperate with them to encourage tourism in Kuwait. We also collect and provide information and data about tourism in the country to help promote Kuwait locally, throughout the region, and worldwide.

What is the breakdown of the specific geographical origin of people who are visiting Kuwait? What is the ratio of family tourism versus MICE tourism?

The majority of our tourists are from the GCC countries. Our top market is Saudi Arabia, followed by Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, and Oman. Tourists from these countries are mainly families coming to Kuwait to visit friends and family. We also receive business and military tourists from around the world, for example, from Europe and America. Kuwait is not quite a MICE region, but we are working to encourage this kind of tourism. We have the infrastructure, with many hotels and large convention centers that we are trying to market as MICE tourism resources.

Our top market is Saudi Arabia, followed by Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, and Oman. Tourists from these countries are mainly families coming to Kuwait to visit friends and family.

What is your current strategy to attract these tourists? How are you reaching out to these people and markets?

We participate mostly in exhibitions, such as ATM, ITB Berlin, and WTM London, to promote Kuwait. Our main exhibition is the ATM in Dubai because it is within our regional market. Currently, we are planning to participate more in Saudi Arabia because they are a top market for us. We are already receiving many tourists from there, even though we do not do much promotion at this time.

What are the major, ongoing tourism projects inside Kuwait to enhance and advance the sector?  

The government is now concentrating on our cultural sites. We recently completed the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre, which houses an opera center and different convention centers. By the middle of this year, we expect to open another cultural and scientific center, called Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre. By the end of this year, the Cultural Village is expected to be ready to open to the public. Many other projects are being planned, all focusing on culture. Many tourists visit Mubarakiya Souk when they come to Kuwait. The municipality that is responsible for this area has a plan to develop, enlarge, and renew the infrastructure within the souk.

What would you expect as the next step from the government?

We would like to see more in terms of entertainment. It is good that the government is focusing more on culture, but we cannot neglect entertainment. Many entertainment sites now belong to TEC, Touristic Enterprises Company, which is a government company under the direction of the Ministry of Finance. They have said that they will renovate and improve, but we have not seen results, yet.

Are you looking to attract investors or companies to invest in the country in the entertainment area?

We have a new Authority called the Kuwait Investment Authority. We still have no connection with them regarding tourism investment. But it is a priority, now. We have the investors already here in Kuwait. Too many Kuwaitis invest in Dubai and other countries when they could be investing in their own country. All they need are more facilities to invest in Kuwait.

What is happening with the new passenger and main terminals at Kuwait International Airport?

Last year, a contract was signed with Limak, which is a Turkish company. The supporting terminal will be finished within eighteen months. Work will begin by the end of 2016 on the main terminal, and will be completed in six years. Limak has challenged themselves to complete work in only four years.

The 2017 HORECA Exhibition, held recently at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds, focused on hospitality and catering. Did you participate?

We participated in the HORECA exhibition last month. This exhibition is organized locally and held every year in Kuwait. This year marks the thirteen year. It was originally planned by a Lebanese company. HORECA aims to encourage facilities and boost the hospitality and the food and beverage sector in Kuwait. There are more than five thousand restaurants now in Kuwait. By 2030, Kuwait will be the “City of Food.”

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