THE atmosphere in Kuwait during the recent Gulf Cup tournament reminded many of what the country was like before a group of MPs imposed restrictions aimed at changing the culture of society, and transforming the nation into Taliban Tora Bora. With the ratification of certain laws and decisions on ministers, who are fearful of potential grilling, the country became subdued, and it seemed happiness was almost forbidden. As a result, statistics had placed Kuwait at the bottom of global tourism indexes. While citizens and residents collectively spend around $15 billion annually on tourism, less than a quarter of this amount is directed toward domestic tourism.
Over the years, many countries have developed their tourism industries after recognizing the major benefits the sector brings to their national economies. If the Kuwaiti government is serious about developing this sector, it must focus on building an integrated infrastructure, beginning with projects to establish public entertainment facilities, in collaboration with the private sector. On the other hand, these projects must be interconnected with the region, open to the world, and include the establishment of free zones, similar to those found in many other countries. The potential of Kuwait’s islands, particularly Failaka Island, has been largely ignored. With smart investment, Failaka Island alone could be transformed into a global tourist destination. We have repeatedly said that closing off the country in this way forces Kuwait to rely entirely on oil revenues as the sole source of national income. This approach hinders the development of diverse industries, no matter how wealthy a nation may be.
Unfortunately, this issue has been overlooked for the past three decades. For example, what prevents a resident from bringing their family and relatives to visit Kuwait? Why must flight tickets be booked only through specific airlines? Why is the visit limited to just one month? Why are residents and citizens prohibited from renting a hotel room if they are not married? Official statistics have not recorded any violations regarding visits in recent months. Many individuals who spend their vacations abroad are compelled to do so simply because they cannot find suitable entertainment options for their children within Kuwait. This is a result of the state’s failure to recognize tourism as a profitable industry
The lack of government support for this sector, either through appropriate legislation, regulations, or preparations to accommodate foreign tourists, prevents tourism from contributing to the country’s gross national product. Is it reasonable that Kuwait welcomed only 200,000 tourists last year, while over 850,000 Kuwaitis and residents traveled abroad for tourism? This year, expenditure on tourism by Kuwaitis and residents amounted to $14.302 billion, with spending reaching $13.095 billion, equivalent to over KD 9 billion, in 2022. Kuwait could have saved three-quarters of this amount if it had embraced greater openness.
During the last Gulf Cup tournament, officials observed a strong recovery in the retail market, as well as in the hotel industry, transportation, and other sectors. This presents an opportunity to think about what would benefit the country and contribute to enhancing the gross national product. It is essential to take this into account and begin opening up Kuwait. We have repeatedly suggested that the actuarial deficit faced by the Public Institution for Social Security could be addressed by allocating desert land to it, under one condition that the land be invested in productive projects. Such projects must be entrusted to capable senior officials with the expertise to manage these types of investments. Opportunities, like time, are fl eeting. If not seized and used wisely, they are lost, and then there will not be any point in crying over spilled milk.
