Tourism, Culture & Sport
From The Report: Kuwait 2025
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Tourism, culture and sport are emerging as pillars of Kuwait’s economic diversification strategy, supporting efforts to broaden national income sources beyond hydrocarbons. As part of New Kuwait 2035, policymakers are investing in cultural institutions, recreational infrastructure and modernised sports facilities while encouraging private sector participation. Kuwait’s visitor economy remains selective: while international leisure tourism is limited, the country hosts a steady flow of regional business travellers, medical visitors and short-stay GCC nationals. Visitor numbers have recovered following the Covid-19 pandemic, supported by the restoration of airline routes, improved entry procedures and the revival of business activity. Looking ahead, the sector is expected to expand gradually as reforms and investment strengthen Kuwait’s cultural and recreational offerings. The opening of Terminal 2 at Kuwait International Airport will enhance connectivity and passenger capacity, while the rehabilitation of historic districts and archaeological sites is set to reinforce Kuwait’s positioning as a regional cultural centre.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Economic transformation: With careful planning and sustained investment, each of the sectors are positioned to play more visible roles in the economy
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A key but often-overlooked pillar of Kuwait’s economy is its tourism, culture and sports sectors – industries now experiencing strong growth as policymakers work to diversify beyond oil and elevate the nation’s global standing. The sectors’ contribution to economic diversification has increased as cultural assets expand, sporting institutions modernise and private participation grows. As the New Kuwait 2035 long-term development programme establishes a national objective to enhance cultural vitality and recreational infrastructure, sectoral reforms have increasingly been linked to wider productivity and diversification goals outside hydrocarbons. The…

Analysis

Cross-border connections: Gulf countries develop strategic partnerships to promote the region as a leading international travel destination
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In 2024 the Middle East witnessed the sharpest relative increase in international arrivals of any region in the world, solidifying its rebound from the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic and further raising its profile as an increasingly attractive destination for inbound tourism. According to UN Tourism, the Middle East, with 95m arrivals, remained the strongest-performing region when compared to 2019, with international arrivals 32% above pre-pandemic levels in 2024, though 1% higher compared to 2023. Road To Recovery Tourism in GCC countries has gained significant momentum on the international stage as the region transforms itself into a competitive…