THE shock waves emanating from the political tremors that shook the region recently have upset among other things holidaymaking too. Places like Egypt and Syria that were the favorite haunts of Kuwaitis to lose themselves in the enchantments of history seem to have suddenly lost their charm. Samer Mehana, Director of Emirates Springs Company, sheds light on the new trends in holidaymaking and the latest regional attraction for real-estate investors. Turkey, he notes, could be an ideal destination now to buy a flat or a villa. “It could be both a saving and an investment.” How exactly, and which destinations are replacing Egypt and Syria as a holidaymaker’s paradise? Read on.

Question: How have the revolutions in the region affected the holiday industry in Kuwait? Places like Egypt were important holiday destinations, and these countries have been rocked by violent political changes... so which places are people now looking at for holidays?
Answer: People are now turning to Lebanon increasingly. Lebanon has always been a tourist destination, but now it’s receiving more tourists because of the unrest in some countries which were traditionally the favorite holiday destinations.

Of course, Kuwaitis have a lot of options to go for holidays because there is Europe, and there is also America. But for those who prefer going to Arab countries and seek places closer to them in terms of culture and language are now looking at Lebanon. It is more stable politically at the moment when compared to countries like Egypt and Syria, which were otherwise a great draw for holidaymakers in Kuwait.
If you look at the hotel bookings in Lebanon during the last Eid, all were booked to capacity and the tourism industry was thriving like at no other time. With problems in Syria, there is a bigger crowd turning to Lebanon now.
Of course Lebanon has its own problems, but something about Lebanon gives it a resilience that helps it absorb all shocks and move on with life. If you remember, there was a horrible war in 2006, and I can relate an incident that happened with a Kuwaiti friend. He was in Lebanon during the war. His parents had called to check on him, he was hiding under the bed as heavy shelling was going on. But he told them that nothing was wrong and that he was enjoying his stay. Just a few days after the war ended, life was back to normal. That’s one good thing about Lebanon.

Q: What are the interesting tourist spots in Lebanon?
A: Currently, skiing is on the high in Lebanon. It is the snow season in Lebanon now. The most interesting aspect of Lebanon is the variety it offers for tourists. You could be on the ski slopes in the morning, swimming in the Mediterranean in the afternoon. There are a number of World Heritage sites like Baalbeck in Bekaa Valley which is Lebanon’s greatest Roman treasure with the most gigantic complex of Roman temples ever built.
Beirut has been rebuilt following the war and it has an optimistic and forward looking feel. At the center of the city is Mohammed Al Amin Mosque, inspired by the famous Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
At the same time, in Quadisha Valley you have some of the earliest known Christian monastic settlements in the world. It’s this diversity that adds to Lebanon’s beauty. Then there is the Ehden Nature Reserve, which is a paradise for visitors interested in birds and mammals. This park has some of the most unique cedar trees in the world, some dating back over 1,500 years.

Q: You said Kuwaitis are buying properties in foreign countries? Which are the countries that Kuwaitis usually like to own properties in?
A: That’s an important question. People from Kuwait were interested in buying properties in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and of course Europe. But a recent trend has shown a nod towards Turkey. The reason for this, I feel, is that Turkey has opened up to the world. The country is promoting itself aggressively. You can see more of it on TV these days, and it is a lovely country.
It is not a very expensive country. The property market in Turkey has not saturated and the prices are agreeable. Kuwaitis can easily afford it.

Q: When you say property, what exactly do you mean?
A: I mean flats of an average size of say 150 sq m. Or small villas.

Q: What is the purpose behind these purchases?
A: Well, it’s a secure investment because real estate is on the rise. Real estate is more stable than other forms of investment. It will go down only if some huge natural catastrophe or something like that strikes. And like in any other business, you invest in areas where the potential for growth is there. Now, Turkey is seen as one such place. People were mostly investing in stocks in Kuwait, and since there are uncertainties in the market, more and more people are looking to invest in real estate. But since real estate in Kuwait is very expensive, people are looking outside of Kuwait.
Here it is not easy to buy a plot of land or a flat. It’s getting very expensive. At the same time, it’s also a place where you can go every year to spend your holidays. When your children inherit these properties from you, the properties would be worth many times more. So, it’s an investment and a saving, simultaneously. Yes, you may not have returns, but you get to enjoy your property as long as you own it.

Q: What about people who had properties in countries like Egypt where you have political unrest going on? Are the investments safe?
A: Yes, of course, they are all safe. Because the changes are not going to affect the investors, and the law of the land is still intact. With more democracy, the investments are only going to become more secure.
Moreover, if countries want to attract foreign capital they have to make the market open and free. They have to create laws that facilitate foreign investors.

Q: Outside the region, which is the most favorite holiday destination for Kuwaitis?
A: Europe of course. London is a big attraction. Many Kuwaitis own properties in Europe. Then France, Austria and Germany are also favorite destinations. And there is Spain, which a lot of Kuwaitis visit. Of late, people have started seeking out unusual destinations, and Canary Islands is gaining popularity here.
In addition, Malaga, the capital of the Costa del Sol has also been attracting a lot of interest. It is to the south of Spain. Malaga is the town where sun, sea and sand is the order of the day, however there is also a wide range of events such as the international film festival and its historic centre, which offers plenty of stunning monuments.
Malaga is famous for its fiestas or holidays, and has an international airport as well as a train and bus station that connect the city with the rest of the European continent.

Q: So people are trying to explore new destinations where they can have a different experience from the usual holidays, is it?
A: Yes. Moreover, there is a growing interest in Australia and the Far East.

Q: Are there tourists going to Japan?
A: Yes, but that’s not a big number. You can say about 5 percent of the tourists from Kuwait go to Japan.

Q: But why is that so? Japan is a first world country, and it has many interesting things to offer tourists, yet why this lukewarm attitude towards Japan?
A: I feel that one of the major stumbling blocks is the language. People go to Europe, Australia or America and they are able to communicate easily with the people there. However, in Japan English is not commonly spoken. And secondly, Japan’s culture, beautiful as it is, has some aspects that need getting used to. For example the food. You have to get used to the food there to be able to enjoy it. Some people will find the food there rather too exotic.
But I think now the situation is improving. Japanese food is being promoted, and we also have many Japanese restaurants in Kuwait now. There are few people who have not tasted sushis.

Q: Is it easy to get visas to destinations in Europe these days? Can you shed some light on the procedures and formalities?
A: Actually, the complications in the visa procedures are a reason for Kuwaitis to turn increasingly to Arab countries for holidays. There was a time when a citizen would send his driver to fetch his visa from the US Embassy here. But that scenario has changed drastically post 9/11. I have personally seen many clients who booked holidays in the US or Europe and later cancelled it because they felt the visa procedures were too complicated.
They have to first go personally and apply for the visa, and then there is an interview to attend and other formalities at the end of which they still don’t know if their application will be approved or not. Some people feel this is very insulting and they would rather change their destination than undergo such treatment.
This is something the GCC citizens are not used to at all. The possibility of their request for visa being turned down is not something they can digest. And then even if they get a visa, they have to undergo heavy screening and pat-down searches at least at some airports in Europe and America. Some find this insulting.
But people should appreciate the fact that this is for everyone’s safety. We have to respect rules and understand that by abiding to them will add to everyone’s safety.

Q: How has holidaymaking in Europe been affected due to the Eurozone debt crisis going on there?
A: Well those things could have affected the holiday plans of Europeans, but as for tourists from other areas going to Europe, it’s still going on much the same. Definitely, we, in this region, are not affected by the economic crisis. The first time round, there were some tremors here. But this time, the region has not been affected at all. So, holidaymakers from Kuwait are continuing to go to Europe, and there has not been any change to that.

Q: What is the general idea of a holiday in Kuwait? How do people look at holidays, is it a getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, or is it a means to know and understand other people and cultures... what exactly is it?
A: Different people have different ideas. If you look at the Europeans, there is always an eagerness to learn and to understand. If you had been to Egypt during a peak season, you would have seen more Europeans there than Arabs. Egypt is a very fascinating place for people interested in human civilization and history.
Here too there are holidaymakers who want to learn from the visits. There are people deeply interested in knowing history and our past. However, I would say a majority of people go on a holiday to escape the heat, do shopping, taste different foods, and relax. The stress is on leisure and fun.

Q: There is this concept of medical tourism that is catching up now-a-days. With the spurt in lifestyle related diseases in Kuwait, is there an increase in medical tourism?
A: Medical tourism or health tourism has evolved into a separate industry by itself. Initially, it was a term to describe the rapidly-growing practice of traveling across international borders to obtain health care.
Services typically sought by travelers include elective procedures as well as complex specialized surgeries such as joint replacement, cardiac surgery, dental surgery, and cosmetic surgeries. However, virtually every type of healthcare, including psychiatry, alternative treatments, convalescent care and even burial services are available.
I have noticed that many people from Kuwait go to places like Czech Republic to obtain special naturopathic treatments. Czech Republic is also attracting health tourists because of its competitive prices, high quality treatment and the salubrious atmosphere.
However, in Kuwait the government supports patients to go abroad for treatment and so the UK and the US are still commonly visited countries for medical treatment.

Q: Personally, what is your favorite destination?
A: I like Lebanon, of course, because that’s where I come from. I like to spend time there, hunting and other activities depending on the season. I also like the US and South Africa. South Africa is a very exotic place. If you want to be wowed, you have to go there, because everything is a very different experience. Food, wild life, culture, you name it... it’s all very different.

Q: I had some of my friends who recently went to Kenya and they said they had a great time there. They were looking for a trip that also had some scope for minor adventures. Are places like Kenya, which is not a modern country, and where perhaps the facilities are a little basic, capturing the attention of people looking for something unusual?
A: Basically, everyone wants to take a break from their routine lives when they think of a holiday. So, when you are from a modern country with all the modern facilities, then your way of breaking the routine would be to go to some hinterlands. So, that’s concept of holiday is also catching up. Safari tours are an example of that.

Q: If a first-time holidaymaker comes to you for advice on how to plan his holiday, what would you tell him?
A: Actually, we have a novel concept of planning a holiday. We give our clients a means to choose their holiday. We don’t function like a travel agent, who takes a commission. We want them to be part of our family. Secondly, our package is for a lifetime. That’s why we say, ‘Fun family forever.’
To put across our idea in simple terms, think of our holidays as a flight. Now, if you want to fly somewhere, you don’t think of buying a whole plane. Instead, you book a seat for yourself. This way it works out much cheaper. However, this has been made possible because there are scores of others like you who have booked a seat. Cumulatively, the airlines will have made enough money to afford flying to any destination with all of you.
Similarly, we sell you just the time you want to spend in one of our properties. This way, you don’t have to own a property, but you have it whenever you want to use it according to the agreement. Moreover, we have a tie-up with a leading international exchange company which allows you to use your own holiday all over the world.

biography
Samer Mahena is the Director of Emirates Springs Real Estate and Holidays Services. He has a Masters Degree in Marketing Management and Business Administration. The company was started in Fujairah in February 1998 and opened a branch in Kuwait in July the same year, and currently has over 5,000 members locally.