The vision of the Minister of Information, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi to transform Kuwait into a tourist destination is achievable but requires several essential steps. The most important among these is adopting a realistic strategy that enhances the private sector’s role in contributing to the tourism industry, which has become a major source of income for several Gulf countries that once relied heavily on oil.
Kuwait has already made positive strides, such as opening its borders with new visa policies. However, these measures alone are not enough. Existing decisions, particularly those restricting the use of agricultural, craft, and industrial land plots allocated by the state to beneficiaries, do not contribute to the promotion of tourism.
For example, agricultural plots suffer from a shortage of fresh water, and even treated water is not always available. As a result, farmers are often forced to buy expensive water tankers. At the same time, the relevant authorities refuse to allow plot owners to allocate a portion of their land for investment in agricultural tourism. In contrast, Abu Dhabi has transformed agricultural tourism into a thriving sector that revitalizes farms. Emirati farms have become important contributors to tourism activities.
This concept has been adopted by all Gulf countries, creating valuable entertainment and leisure opportunities for both citizens and residents. There is no doubt that Kuwait lacks many of the elements that encourage tourism. Creating a thriving tourism environment requires a lot of effort, including supporting and encouraging creative ideas and rescinding decisions that hinder their progress. The goal is to diversify national income, increase the gross domestic product, and reduce government interference in people’s livelihoods.
Therefore, when some farm owners request permission to build chalets or tents on a limited area to increase their income and develop their farms, officials should facilitate the procedures. This is especially important given that agriculture is costly in a country with a harsh climate and requires substantial investment in crops. The government’s permission for farm owners to establish some of the tourism activities that Kuwait needs would help reduce spending on foreign tourism, which remains among the highest in the country.
This is primarily because Kuwait lacks the tourism facilities that attract its citizens. By encouraging the development of such facilities, we can stimulate much-needed tourism activity in all regions, both north and south. On the other hand, no matter how much agricultural production, such as vegetables and legumes, increases, it will not generate the desired income on its own. To address this problem, we can take Saudi Arabia as an example. It has promoted agricultural tourism, turning farms into recreational destinations where visitors can enjoy activities, learn, and purchase local agricultural products.
These activities include cafes, exhibitions, and restaurants. This approach kills two birds with a stone - greening the land and boosting tourism in both northern and southern Kuwait. The wildlife tourism season in Kuwait lasts six months. Encouraging these types of activities could significantly increase income during this period. The same applies to owners of industrial, craft, and service vouchers, who are currently facing unreasonable obstacles imposed by official institutions. If the justification behind these decisions is the need for greater regulation, the solution is simple.
The government can collect taxes and fees in exchange for facilitating procedures. Currently, people are facing a crisis due to these obstructive decisions, which will neither make Kuwait a tourist destination nor a competitive industrial, service, or tourism hub. The government must support owners of industrial, agricultural, and service plots who have invested their money with the hope of growing their businesses.
However, the Council of Ministers has introduced measures that increase obstacles and further discourage investors, rather than encouraging and supporting them. The Minister of Finance, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, and the Minister of Information must lend their voices to this issue, which lies at the core of their expertise. Investors who develop their projects based on clear and fair laws deserve gratitude. If the government believes it has been wronged, it should remove the injustice but not that way.