Tourism and Travel Season

The life of the Kuwaiti citizen has evolved alongside societal changes. In the past, he relied on travel and diving to earn a living; however, following the discovery of oil and the influx of oil revenues into citizens’ lives, the desire to travel shifted from a necessity for survival to a pursuit for education, commerce, medical treatment, or tourism.

The travel season flourished with advancements in transportation, particularly the automobile and the airplane, which now enable reaching distant destinations within a limited number of hours. Kuwait and the region witnessed a boom in the number of tourism and travel agencies, as well as airlines operating modern fleets, whether state-owned or private.

Despite the conditions of war, the determination to travel has become a primary choice for the average Kuwaiti, even as ticket prices rise due to increased aviation fuel costs and hotel bookings.

One of the benefits of travel is that it breaks the daily routine and reduces the psychological pressures of a fixed lifestyle. It also offers an opportunity to encounter other cultures and spend enjoyable time with family and friends.

I recall meeting an old friend in the hospital and asking him if he was still so passionate about travel that he had opted for early retirement to enjoy traveling with his family. He replied, “That was in the past. Now, in my mid-seventies, and due to my health condition, I follow the philosophy of the late Professor Saleh Shihab, the engineer of recreational activities in Kuwait during the summer. I have learned to coexist with Kuwait’s summer season, which is the coolest due to the availability of air conditioning. Instead, I travel starting in September or October, after the academic year begins, when traffic is lighter and prices are lower than in the summer, particularly in some Arab tourist capitals that still go to great lengths to inflate prices for Gulf tourists.”

Despite all this, Kuwait International Airport is crowded with travelers, both citizens and guests of Kuwait, especially after the reopening of the airport, which had been bombed multiple times. There is a strong government commitment to keeping the airport open, which is matched by the public’s determination to travel after a demanding academic year and dedicated work, despite rising prices.

There is intense competition among various countries to attract the Kuwaiti tourist in particular and the Gulf tourist in general, particularly Arab capitals, as well as Turkey and Georgia. We must not forget European countries, which are currently suffering from rising temperatures, with heat-related deaths exceeding two thousand people. Meanwhile, we remain capable of coping with Kuwait’s harsh summer heat, which ranks among the highest in the world, if not the highest.

My friend, who studied in the Arab Republic of Egypt and purchased an apartment in Cairo, noted that the weather is so hot that he prefers to stay indoors, venturing out only at night when temperatures drop slightly. Moreover, most taxis lack air conditioning. However, there are major tourism campaigns on social media platforms aimed at attracting Gulf tourists with highly competitive prices for five-star hotels and furnished apartments overlooking the Nile, which Gulf tourists adore.

I have a friend who dislikes traveling to Arab countries, despite his pan-Arab orientation, due to the poor treatment and scams that Gulf tourists sometimes encounter, particularly price gouging. In foreign countries, fixed prices ensure that tipping is done willingly and without being asked. He argues that he travels for relaxation, which is readily available in foreign countries, whereas he experiences stress and a sense of injustice in some Arab and Islamic countries.

In conclusion, the Kuwaiti tourist emphasized the importance of adhering to proper conduct while traveling, noting that every citizen serves as an ambassador for their country. He advised individuals to handle harassment with tact to prevent situations from escalating and spoiling the joy of travel and vacation enjoyment, particularly since every country and people have both positive and negative aspects, making it unnecessary to generalize.