KUWAIT CITY, Jan 18, (KUNA): Raising the standards of the tourism sector in Kuwait will provide around 30,000 job opportunities over the next 10 years with an annual investment capacity of over KD 700 million, a Ministry of Information official said. The tourism sector will assume a pivotal role in the diversification of resources and in the reduction of the likely state budget deficit in the event of a persistent drop in oil prices, added the official.

The ministry’s Undersecretary for External Media Affairs and Acting Undersecretary for Tourism Faisal Al-Mutalaqem was speaking to reporters at HORECA Kuwait, a food catering and hospitality exhibition which focuses on Kuwait and the wider region. Al-Mutalaqem underlined the ministry will be assuming its role in this endeavor, focusing its efforts on raising the standards of and transforming the tourism industry into a dynamic source of national income.

StrategyThis strategy carries a rather large responsibility, he said, as promoting the country as a tourist destination requires huge commitment to tourism and development projects in the country and opening more job opportunities for the youth, amid public and private sector coordination, he underlined. Citing Kuwait’s successful participation in the global socio-cultural Expo Milano 2015, the official urged the need for “specialized” exhibitions, which he said support development plans, reinvigorate trade and offer a dynamic role in encouraging youth to engage in businesses through support of SMEs.