The government needs to review everything written and spoken

02/12/2025

Ahmed Al Jarallah

02/12/2025

Ahmed Al Jarallah

The government needs to review everything written and spoken

The stark contrast between the KD 4 billion Kuwaitis spent on tourism abroad last year and the mere KD 206 million generated from visitors to Kuwait highlights a major imbalance. This huge disparity requires us to consider strategies for revitalizing domestic tourism, thereby reducing outbound spending and redirecting it toward local ventures. Furthermore, action is needed to attract international visitors, bringing Kuwait in line with other GCC countries that have succeeded in the global tourism market. There is no doubt that the country is fully capable of implementing entertainment projects on both regional and global levels. Moreover, available unused land can be repurposed to support this goal.

Benefiting from these resources properly, free from administrative obstacles, will not only generate significant national benefits but also promote development in all regions of Kuwait. This would facilitate the allocation of sovereign wealth funds toward such projects, along with contributions from the Social Security Fund and similar entities. It would also encourage private-sector participation and provide incentives to attract foreign investment, not to mention that banks possess substantial capital that they are eager to invest.

Effective planning, sound decision-making, and ensuring equal opportunities for all are essential. This responsibility rests with the current government, which is unburdened by the pressures that hindered previous administrations. Previous governments were susceptible to pressure and intimidation from members of parliament. These MPs pursued electoral gains, often misusing public funds and promoting wasteful spending to avoid parliamentary questioning. This misguided approach created a budget deficit and impeded many of Kuwait’s economic capabilities. As a result, several projects were halted and plans shelved. While there is no need to revisit those losses in detail, it is necessary to take into consideration the potential to rectify the damage of the past, particularly now that the government holds both legislative and executive powers and is fully capable of restoring what was lost. This governmental advantage grants great capacity to boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through development projects in all sectors, including the entertainment industry.

One of the most important benefits of entertainment is its ability to create jobs for citizens. It also stimulates increased consumer spending and encourages investment in vital infrastructure and related sectors such as hospitality and food services. While the government has the right to impose fees and taxes to strengthen the public treasury through these projects, it must also ensure that services and facilities are accessible, allowing citizens to enjoy their own country rather than relying solely on financial gain. Despite a generally comfortable financial environment, many Kuwaitis have nonetheless felt a sense of isolation, which led them to travel abroad for leisure and vacations, unlike the attractions that typically draw tourists to Kuwait. Kuwait must embrace investment strategies that have already proven successful internationally, as these models can be easily replicated domestically. Keeping pace with global developments is essential.

Furthermore, diversifying sources of income is no longer a matter of choice but an imperative, given the inherent risks of depending on a single revenue stream. Therefore, to strengthen the national economy, the government should prioritize harnessing local investment opportunities rather than allowing national resources to be drained by overseas investments. Kuwait is in a strong economic position, supported by its profitable sovereign wealth funds and other local investment resources. These resources can be strategically deployed to launch a variety of projects, including service, agricultural, industrial, and entertainment ventures, which would boost the local economy and enhance regional competitiveness.