Deputy Minister of Media: Kuwait's participation in 'Arab Travel Market' strengthens its presence on the international tourism map

Kuwait’s Undersecretary of Media, Dr. Nasser Muhaissen, confirmed on Monday that Kuwait’s participation in the “Arab Travel Market 2026” in Dubai is part of the Ministry’s strategy to enhance Kuwait’s presence on the regional and international tourism map, presenting it as a unified tourist destination with diverse, developable, and investable assets.

The Kuwait Ministry of Media stated in a press release to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the State of Kuwait launched its external tourism presence under the “Visit Kuwait” brand through its participation in the exhibition, which began today and runs until September 17. The participation includes the Ministry of Media, represented by the Tourism Affairs Department, alongside Kuwait Airways and the Kuwait Hotel Owners Association.

Dr. Muhaissen said that launching and strengthening the “Visit Kuwait” tourism brand represents an important step toward presenting Kuwait as a unified tourist destination. He emphasized that the Ministry of Media, as the supervisory authority for “Visit Kuwait,” is working to unify promotional efforts for the Kuwaiti tourism destination and highlight the country’s assets, thereby raising awareness of Kuwait as a tourist destination and attracting more visitors from targeted markets.

He added that the importance of participating in a specialized exhibition of the scale of “Arab Travel Market” extends beyond media promotion to include direct engagement with decision-makers and specialists in the tourism and travel sectors, as well as identifying current trends in the tourism industry and exploring cooperation and partnership opportunities that could positively impact the growth of Kuwait’s tourism sector.

Dr. Muhaissen stressed the importance of coordination between government entities and the private sector in supporting tourism, noting that the presence of Kuwait Airways and the Kuwait Hotel Owners Association within the Kuwait pavilion reflects the desire to present an integrated tourism system that begins with destination promotion, continues with air transport, and concludes with accommodation and hospitality services.

For his part, Yusuf Al-Dhafiri, Director of Public Relations at Kuwait Airways, said in the statement that the national carrier’s participation in the Kuwait pavilion underscores its role as a key partner in supporting and developing tourism activity in Kuwait.

Al-Dhafiri added that the aviation sector is one of the main components of the tourism system, noting that Kuwait Airways continues to work on enhancing its route network and services to support passenger movement and connect Kuwait with regional and international markets and destinations.

He clarified that participation provides Kuwait Airways with the opportunity to engage with airlines, travel agencies, tour operators, and other tourism-related companies from various markets, and to explore cooperation opportunities that would support tourism activity and enhance Kuwait’s attractiveness as an easily accessible destination through its air transport network.

For his part, Abdulilah Ma’arfi, Vice President of the Kuwait Hotel Owners Association, said in the statement that the hotel sector’s participation in the Kuwait pavilion represents an important step toward strengthening the presence of Kuwaiti hotel products in front of regional and international tourism markets.

Ma’arfi stated that hotels are one of the main components of the tourism system, and that the success of any tourist destination is linked to the integration of its elements, foremost among them being accommodation facilities and hotel services.

He added that participation in the exhibition provides an opportunity to meet with representatives of travel and tourism companies, tour operators, and hospitality specialists, to introduce the services and capabilities offered by the hospitality sector in Kuwait, as well as to explore cooperation opportunities and attract more tour programs and groups to the country.

Maarafi emphasized the importance of partnership between the public and private sectors in developing Kuwaiti tourism, noting that the presence of the Kuwait Hotel Owners Association in the Kuwait pavilion alongside the Ministry of Information and Kuwait Airways exemplifies this integration and enhances Kuwait’s capacity to offer a comprehensive tourism product to target markets.

The Kuwait pavilion serves as a unified platform for promoting the Kuwait tourism destination under the “Visit Kuwait” banner. During the exhibition days, it showcases promotional and informational materials about Kuwait’s destinations, landmarks, and tourism experiences, along with services related to aviation and hospitality.

The participation program includes a series of bilateral meetings and discussions with representatives of travel and tourism companies, tour operators, and specialized entities, aimed at exploring cooperation and partnership opportunities and promoting Kuwait within regional and international tourism programs and products.

The Arabian Travel Market is among the most prominent specialized events in the travel and tourism sector in the region, bringing together representatives from the tourism, aviation, hotel, and hospitality industries, as well as travel companies and tour operators, providing a platform for exchanging expertise, showcasing destinations and tourism products, and exploring cooperation opportunities.