Media Affairs Undersecretary: Kuwait's participation in the Arabian Travel Market enhances its presence on the international tourism map
Kuwait’s Undersecretary of Media, Dr. Nasser Muhaissen, confirmed on Monday that Kuwait’s participation in the Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai aligns with the ministry’s strategy to strengthen Kuwait’s presence on the regional and international tourism map, presenting the country as a unified destination with diverse, developable, and investable assets.
In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the Ministry of Media noted that Kuwait launched its external tourism presence under the “Visit Kuwait” brand through its participation in the exhibition, which opened today and runs until September 17. The participation involves the Ministry of Media, represented by the Tourism Affairs Department, alongside Kuwait Airways and the Kuwait Hotel Owners Association.
Dr. Muhaissen stated that launching and strengthening the “Visit Kuwait” tourism brand represents a significant step toward presenting Kuwait as a unified tourism destination. He emphasized that the Ministry of Media, as the supervisory authority for “Visit Kuwait,” is working to consolidate 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 target markets.
He added that the importance of participating in a specialized event of the scale of Arabian Travel Market extends beyond media promotion to include direct engagement with decision-makers and tourism and travel specialists, as well as identifying emerging trends in the tourism industry and exploring cooperation and partnership opportunities that could positively impact the growth of Kuwait’s tourism sector.
Dr. Muhaissen underscored the importance of integration 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 national pavilion reflects the desire to offer a comprehensive 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 Kuwaiti pavilion reaffirms its role as a key partner in supporting and developing tourism activity in Kuwait. He 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 stakeholders 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, confirmed in the statement that the hospitality sector’s participation in the Kuwaiti pavilion represents an important step toward strengthening the presence of Kuwaiti hotel products in regional and international tourism markets.
Ma’arfi stated that hotels are a key component of the tourism system, and the success of any tourism destination is linked to the integration of its elements, primarily accommodation and hotel services. He added that participation in the exhibition offers an opportunity to meet with representatives of travel and tourism companies, tour operators, and hospitality specialists, to showcase the services and capabilities provided by the hospitality sector in Kuwait, and to explore cooperation opportunities and attract more tour programs and groups to the country.
Ma’arfi 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 pavilion alongside the Ministry of Media and Kuwait Airways embodies this integration and enhances Kuwait’s ability to offer a comprehensive tourism product to target markets.
The Kuwaiti pavilion forms a unified platform for promoting the Kuwaiti tourism destination under the “Visit Kuwait” banner, showcasing promotional and informational materials about destinations, landmarks, and tourism experiences in Kuwait, as well as services related to aviation and hospitality, throughout the exhibition days.
The participation program includes a number of bilateral meetings and sessions 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.
Arabian Travel Market is one of the most prominent specialized events in the travel and tourism sector in the region, bringing together representatives from the tourism, aviation, hotel, and hospitality sectors, travel agencies, and tour operators, providing a platform for exchanging expertise, showcasing destinations and tourism products, and exploring cooperation opportunities.
