Kuwait charts bold tourism future at landmark Jazeera Airways forum
. . . to explore tourism opportunities in support of the ‘Visit Kuwait’ agenda
- Jazeera Airways brought together key tourism and business stakeholders to drive a national conversation on unlocking Kuwait’s untapped tourism potential and positioning the country as a dynamic destination for global travelers.
Jazeera Airways hosted the inaugural Kuwait Tourism Forum 2026 yesterday under the patronage and presence of Dr. Nasser Muhaisen, Undersecretary of Kuwait’s Ministry of Information.
The event brought together tourism stakeholders, government officials, hospitality leaders, aviation experts, and private sector representatives to discuss ways to strengthen Kuwait’s tourism industry and support the objectives of Kuwait Vision 2035.
Held with the support of the Crowne Plaza Al Thuraya City, the forum focused on enhancing cooperation between the public and private sectors while exploring Kuwait’s tourism potential and positioning the country more prominently on the regional and international tourism map.
Jazeera Airways CEO Barathan Pasupathi said Kuwait possesses significant untapped tourism potential due to its strategic location, expanding air connectivity, strong cultural identity, and growing hospitality infrastructure. He stressed that Kuwait is within a few hours’ flight of billions of people, presenting a major opportunity for inbound tourism growth.
Pasupathi explained that the forum aimed to unite stakeholders under a shared vision to help shape the future of tourism in Kuwait. He emphasized that government institutions, airlines, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, tour operators, financial institutions, event organizers, SMEs, and the wider private sector can collectively work under a unified national strategy to promote “Visit Kuwait” and advance the country’s Vision 2035 goals.
He identified economic growth as the first major pillar of tourism development, noting that tourism stimulates spending across sectors including aviation, hospitality, retail, transportation, entertainment, food and beverage, real estate, and digital services. According to Pasupathi, every tourist contributes directly to economic activity and creates demand across multiple industries.
The second pillar highlighted was tourism revenues and national income. Pasupathi cited studies from Mastercard Economics Institute showing strong growth in global tourism spending following the pandemic, with travelers increasingly seeking new destinations and cultural experiences. He noted that tourism revenues spread rapidly across society, benefiting airlines, hotels, local businesses, restaurants, taxis, malls, tourist attractions, and SMEs.
The third pillar focused on employment and human capital development. Pasupathi said tourism creates jobs across all levels of the economy, from pilots and hotel workers to chefs, tour guides, marketers, entrepreneurs, and logistics providers. He stressed that tourism can provide important opportunities for Kuwaiti youth while supporting industries linked to hospitality, aviation, technology, entertainment, and services, ultimately strengthening economic diversification and long-term national resilience.
He also stressed that tourism growth requires coordinated policies, infrastructure investment, simplified visa procedures, strong destination marketing, improved air connectivity, and close partnerships between all sectors. He added that attracting tourists also encourages foreign direct investment, as investors tend to follow destinations that successfully develop tourism industries.
Jazeera Airways Chief Government Affairs Officer Nasser Al-Obaid emphasized the importance of effective cooperation between the public and private sectors to build a stronger tourism-based economy. He said Kuwait has all the necessary ingredients for tourism growth, including security, cultural heritage, infrastructure, a vibrant private sector, and strong regional connectivity. He stressed that success depends on coordinated planning, supportive legislation, infrastructure investment, and adopting successful international tourism models suited to Kuwait’s environment.
The forum also featured a panel discussion titled “Kuwait’s Tourism Potential and How to Activate It,” moderated by Sarah Al-Baker, where participants examined opportunities and challenges facing the tourism sector. On the sidelines of the event, Jazeera Airways signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kuwait Hotels Association to strengthen cooperation between the aviation and hospitality sectors.
Presentations were also delivered by Sulaiman Al-Gharib from Visit Kuwait, Mohammed Anis Naji representing the Kuwait Hotels Association, and Dominic Axman from Oxford Economics, focusing on tourism opportunities, hospitality readiness, infrastructure, air connectivity, and the role of tourism in supporting Kuwait’s economic diversification efforts.
