Kuwait is raising awareness of its tourism-related developments at this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM). The exhibitors for this year’s event include Kuwait Ministry of Commerce and Tourism, Kuwait Airways and Al-Marwa Haj & Umrah Services, which has increased the size of its stand.
The annual road show took off in Kuwait at the JW Marriott Hotel looking to discuss marketing opportunities to showcase Kuwait’s tourism ambitions.
“The Kuwaiti government recognises tourism’s potential and has set a target of one million tourists annually by 2015. The government is also committing necessary investment dollars to develop its five-year plan for the travel and tourism sector,” said Mark Walsh, portfolio director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
Funds earmarked for transport infrastructure alone total around US$13 billion according to Kuwait government officials, with the Kuwait Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) spearheading the upgrade of existing facilities at Kuwait International Airport. This also includes construction of a new terminal, boosting capacity from the current six m passengers per year to 13 m by 2016.
To further cater to this growth, Kuwait Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) are launching a number of tourism, entertainment and sports projects pegged at US$ 460 m, revealed the firm’s deputy chairman and managing director, Khaled Al Ghanim.
Kuwait’s Partnership Technical Bureau has also announced the development of resorts, recreational facilities and a marina on Failaka Island as top priority projects. These will be complemented by many new hotels, focusing on the luxury sector, with 10,000 new rooms expected to come online by 2015 – an increase in supply of almost one third, according to the Kuwait Hotel Owners Association (KHOA).
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