The government of Kuwait is pressing ahead with multiple plans that will see billions of dollars invested in tourism projects and a further $1 billion budget earmarked to promote the Gulf state over the same period.

Plans are in place to establish a Supreme Commission for Tourism to initiate its tourism strategy as the country prepares to showcase at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2017, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 24 to 27.

A number of mega-projects will share the multi-billion dollar development budget, including: Madinat Al Hareer and Silk City, a proposed mega-development in the country’s north; the expansion of Kuwait International Airport, reaching 25 million passenger per year capacity by 2025; and cultural attractions such as Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Islamic Centre.

Simon Press, senior exhibition director, ATM, said: “Kuwait is evolving into a multifaceted destination with many things to offer both corporate and leisure visitors. The government is making huge investments at a crucial time for the country’s development and, in channeling significant funds into tourism infrastructure, leisure developments and lifestyle destinations, in the long-term Kuwait is telling the world it’s very much open for business.”

According to figures from the World Travel and Tourism Council, travel and tourism investment in Kuwait is set to rise 1.5 per cent per annum over the next 10years.

The latest Colliers International Kuwait Hospitality Market Snapshot, reports 70 per cent of visitors arrived in Kuwait as corporate travellers in 2016, with the country’s leisure industry comprising only 6 per cent of total arrivals. Hotel performance declined 6 per cent overall for the year as a result. Business spending also suffered losses, falling 2.4 per cent over the course of the year, an ATM statement said.
Key hotel performance indicators showed slight declines in 2016 with ADR down 2.3 per cent, RevPAR down 4.8 per cent and occupancy down 2.6 per cent.

Performance is forecast for strong recovery in 2017 with continued growth to 2026, reaching values of KD501.3 million. Leisure travel spending is expected rise by 4.5 per cent per annum to KD1,939.1 million in 2026, following an annual growth rate of 8.7 per cent in 2016.

Press said: “Kuwait is actively working to diversify its guest segmentation and that will be important to securing the projected levels of growth over the coming years. We expect to see a corresponding diversification in hotel stock as more leisure, health and wellness tourists discover the country’s unique offerings.”

This year, ATM will host a number of exhibitors from Kuwait, including the Ministry of Information – Tourism Sector, Holidays Arabia, Kuwait Hotel Owners Association, Kuwait Tourism and Services.
ATM,  considered by many industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector, witnessed a year-on-year visitor attendance increase of 9 per cent to over 28,500 in 2016, with 2,785 exhibiting companies, signing business deals worth more than $ 2.5 billion over four days.

ATM 2017 will build on its success with the announcement of an additional hall as Reed Travel Exhibitions looks to add to its record-breaking achievements of 2016, the statement said. - TradeArabia News Service