Kuwait’s goal of welcoming one million tourists will be the focus this year at Arabian Travel Market as the government’s current five-year plan for travel and tourism sector reaches a climax.
World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) predictions put tourist arrivals at 440,000 by 2024 – up from 270,000 in 2014 – and the government has ploughed $13 billion into infrastructure development, which is accelerating opportunities for Kuwait’s tourism sector as a whole.According to the Aranca Q3 2014 Mena Tourism & Hospitality Report, Kuwait’s tourism sector is undergoing a sea change with a number of new projects in the pipeline.These include a new terminal at Kuwait International Airport. Scheduled for completion in 2016, the $4.8 billion contract will increase capacity from six million in 2013 to 13 million by 2016, and up to 25 million per annum by 2025. Meanwhile, major tourism development entities including the Kuwait Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC), are launching a number of entertainment and sports projects valued at around $460 million, while hotel room supply is forecast to rise by almost a third, with up to 10,000 rooms scheduled to come online by the end of 2015. Jumeirah opened the doors to its Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa late last year and several four- and five-star resorts are also set to open this year, including projects from IHG and Millennium, while the government plans to transform Failaka Island and Boubyan Island into top leisure tourism destinations.Kuwait currently has around 7,256 hotel rooms with a further 1,958 rooms and up to seven contracted hotels and resorts in the pipeline.According to MEED intelligence, the top 10 projects currently under development include the Abdulla Al Salem Cultural Centre, Al Kout Mall, City Olympic Village and the country’s largest retail development to date, The Avenues. This collectively represents over $2 billion worth of investment.Kuwaiti companies exhibiting at this year’s ATM include the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Tourism Sector, Kuwait Airways, Holidays Arabia, and first-time participant, Kuwait Concierge Company.***************************************************************************************************************************Kuwait calling$2bn Worth of projects currently under development
10,000 Rooms added by end of this year
2016 Will see a new terminal at Kuwait International Airport***************************************************************************************************************************