KUWAIT CITY, Oct 2: In a strategic move to revitalize and expand Kuwait’s tourism sector, Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi held an institutional meeting on Thursday with hotel managers and representatives of travel and tourism agencies to discuss key areas of cooperation, identify pressing challenges, and propose effective solutions.

Accompanied by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information Dr. Nasser Muhaisen, Minister Al-Mutairi stressed the government’s unwavering support for tourism development, guided by the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and the instructions of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

He highlighted the importance of the recently launched VISIT KUWAIT platform, describing it as a comprehensive digital tool that serves as an “institutional tourism memory” and a central hub for citizens, residents, and international visitors. The platform features a streamlined e-tourist visa, an interactive map highlighting destinations and services, the smart assistant Rashid for 24/7 inquiries, and a wide range of promotional offers and discounts aimed at enriching the visitor experience while supporting the private sector.

“The platform represents a unified national vision,” Al-Mutairi said. “It brings together government and private sector entities under one umbrella, opening doors for partnerships in hotels, restaurants, transportation, entertainment, and sports. It also provides a single communication and marketing window for local and international investors, reflecting Kuwait’s authentic hospitality and cultural identity.”

He added that these efforts aim to firmly establish Kuwait on the global tourism map and enable the country to project a bright image to the world: “So that Kuwait can say to every visitor, ‘Welcome and welcome again.’”

On cooperation with the hotel sector, Al-Mutairi noted that Kuwait’s engagement with tourism dates back to 1973 through its tourism promotion project. Since then, many ideas have evolved into current, on-the-ground projects. He pointed out that Kuwait is rich in natural tourism resources—including islands and beaches—that, when developed and serviced appropriately, could be major attractions.

The minister emphasized that the country’s world-class hotels are key assets that must be supported and integrated into broader tourism strategies. Facilitating collaboration and providing operational support for these hotels would help transform them into competitive forces within the regional tourism market.

Al-Mutairi also underlined the critical role of travel and tourism agencies, which offer comprehensive travel solutions—from flight bookings to accommodation and transportation—ensuring safe, convenient, and efficient experiences for tourists.

To operationalize these ideas, he directed the formation of a specialized task force comprising representatives from the Ministry of Information, the hotel sector, and travel agencies. The team will be responsible for following up on development plans and implementing strategies through the Visit Kuwait platform.

During the meeting, Sulaiman Al-Gharib, a member of the Visit Kuwait team, delivered a visual presentation outlining collaboration opportunities and the benefits of institutional partnerships. He explained how agencies and hotels can list their services on the platform, receive promotional support, and participate in exclusive discount programs.

The session also examined ways to attract more tourists to Kuwait, discussed the development of the hotel and tourism sectors, and reviewed proposals to overcome the obstacles faced by all stakeholders involved in this vital partnership.

Meanwhile, the Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), Eid AlRashidi, on Thursday emphasized the ministry’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and public services as part of efforts to support tourism and highlight Kuwait’s civilized image.

Al-Rashidi spoke to KUNA on the sidelines of the Ministry of Public Works’ collaboration with Kuwait Municipality and other relevant authorities to ensure the success of the recently inaugurated Shuwaikh Beach project.

He detailed MPW’s role in the project, which included asphalt paving, land preparation using advanced planning and organizational methods, as well as maintenance and implementation of parking lots and infrastructure works. This also involved connecting sewage and rainwater lines to serve the development.

Al-Rashidi highlighted the significant contribution of the ministry’s national workforce, particularly the Maintenance Engineering Sector of the Capital Governorate, in driving the project forward.

He also praised the pivotal role of the Governor of the Capital Governorate, Sheikh Abdullah Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, whose active follow-up and constructive directives helped complete the project under an integrated vision aimed at enhancing the quality of life and developing public facilities.