Besides Kuwait’s historical attractions and revived hotel industry, Karen Remo-Listana says it is the genuine welcome from the local people that is the country’s main attraction.
In the novel Girls of Riyadh, the lives of four university students from Saudi Arabia’s elite classes were described. The book, which was initially banned in Saudi and later became a best-seller across the Middle East, notably features Um Nuwayyir, a Kuwaiti woman who works for the government as a school inspector of the mathematics curriculum. Throughout the true-to-life story, Um was depicted as a sweet, loving and caring friend, and almost a mother-figure to the four girls; most importantly, it was emphasised that she was a Kuwaiti.
This people-centric description would not be new to anyone who has visited Kuwait. Fahed Abushaar, area director and general manager of the Sheraton Kuwait hotel, says: “The most remarkable characteristic of Kuwait is its local people, who are well known for being tremendously hospitable and welcoming.”
While Kuwait remains dry (alcoholic drinks are considered haram, or unacceptable) and conservatism is still in the air, this does not pose a big problem for visitors, says Mirvat Wehbe, public relations manager at the Mövenpick Hotel. “Kuwaiti people are warm and friendly,” she says. “It is this mix of traditional culture combined with a modern society that makes Kuwait so appealing.”
Jan Petter Eilertsen, general manager of Radisson SAS, agrees – when asked what the top attraction is in this small constitutional monarchy on the Arabian Gulf, he replies without hesitation: “It’s the people. They are exceptionally hospitable. They like to meet new people and they are used to meeting foreigners as they travel a lot outside Kuwait.”
This all-embracing attitude towards tourism at the grass-roots level obviously originates at the top, as the country has put in place a 20-year tourism masterplan, launched two years ago and developed in co-ordination with the World Tourism Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme.
This has led to Kuwait positioning itself as an inbound Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) tourism destination with a strong emphasis on the business travel market, including the meetings and exhibitions sector, in addition to its established role as a family holiday spot for GCC residents. Eilertsen says: “In Kuwait, you’ll find peace and quiet, something that is not normally found in other big cities.”
While there are a number of sites of interest to tourists, Failaka Island is the country’s most visited attraction. The island, which lies 20km off the coast of Kuwait City, covers an area of about 24 sq/km. This stretch of land used to be home to a population of more than 2,000; however, during the Iraqi invasion in 1990, many were forced to leave and seek accommodation elsewhere.
Nowadays, it is a tourism hot spot and the recent opening of the Failaka Heritage Village, operated by Safir Hotels and Resorts, is expected to provide an additional boost. The Failaka Island Development Project will add 4,000 rooms and chalets to the resort with 12 hotels, plus a marina for up to 300 boats. Visitors should bear in mind that a special pass is required to reach the island and travelling is best done during the spring months of March, April and May.
The Green Island and Messila Beach are also alluring attractions. Liberation Tower, which symbolises the Kuwaiti liberation from the Iraqi invasion in 1991, and the Kuwait Towers, the main landmark of the city, are also popular sites.
The most significant growth, says the Mövenpick’s Wehbe, is in the retail sector, where mega-malls are popping up across the country. She notes that the recent opening of the Avenues, a US$2 billion upscale shopping centre, is indicative of the high demand in this area.
The hospitality industry in Kuwait is heavily dependent on the business travel sector, with management at the Sheraton, Radisson and Holiday Inn all agreeing that as many as 95 per cent of their customers are in the country on business. However, occupancy rates have fallen off – from July 2006 to June 2007, the occupancy rate was 66.6 per cent, compared with 80 per cent the previous year – due to the military activity in Iraq, which has led to reductions in the number of exhibitions, shows and other marketing activities.
Sheraton’s Abushaar says: “Kuwait’s geographical location at the centre of the Middle East conflicts for over two decades is now sadly affecting it. We just hope that once the neighbouring countries resolve their political issues the industry will start to pick up again.”
Kurt Ritter, president and chief executive of the Rezidor Hotel Group, adds: “It’s sad the way the conflict in Iraq has impacted on the hospitality market in Kuwait, but you just have to accept it and deal with it.”
Despite the ongoing regional hostilities, the future of the country’s tourism industry looks assured. The World Travel and Tourism Council’s latest research predicts a 15 per cent growth for Kuwaiti tourism, which is expected to generate revenues worth US$13.7 billion. The addition of budget carrier Jazeera Airways to Kuwait’s aviation inventory and its recent announcement of Dubai as a second operational hub are also predicted to increase visitor numbers.
Due to these rosy forecasts, international companies are scrambling to build new hotels in order to take advantage of the burgeoning market. Kuwait has recently received more than 90 applications for hotel licences and will see its first lifestyle and fashion hotel, the Hotel Missoni, open next year. The newest member of the Rezidor family has properties that range in size from 100 to 300 rooms, and which are strategically positioned in cities that are seen as being ahead of the pack or in ultra-chic resorts.
Jean-Marc Busato, area vice-president of the Rezidor Hotel Group, says: “Kuwait is a major urban hub. Missoni Kuwait will be located right in the Marina mall near the Corniche so it is a good fit for that kind of environment.”
Meanwhile, Intercontinental Hotels Group is developing a 200-room Intercontinental hotel in Kuwait City. The property, which should open in early 2009, will be the fourth Kuwaiti property to be backed by Bu Khamseen Group Holding Co, with Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels already open and the group’s new serviced apartment brand, Staybridge Suites, set to open by next year.
Laurent Rigaud, chairman and managing director of the Holiday Inn Downtown, says the demand for international companies to come and establish themselves in Kuwait is huge.
He says: “The hotels that we have in Kuwait have been established for quite some time. Now there are newcomers and you can see that there are a lot of exciting projects going on in the city.”
Abushaar at Sheraton adds: “No one can deny the significant boom in the hospitality industry, whereby new hotels and brands are entering the market and consequently positively reinforcing the tourism sector here in Kuwait.”
The influx of hotel companies hoping to cash in on Kuwait’s emerging market is a guarantee that there will be accommodation to suit all kinds of travellers. According to Eilertsen at Radisson, an increase of 15 per cent in supply within the four and five-star segments alone was recorded last year. Another 33 per cent increase is expected by the end of this year.
Rezidor’s Kurt Ritter, who oversees the brands Radisson, Park Inn Regent, Missoni and Country Inn, says: “Kuwait City is close to my heart. I was the opening general manager from 1979 until 1984. Then in 1989, I took over as chief executive of the company. We have faith in the future of the Kuwait market, as we have done very well over the years.”
The Rezidor Hotel Group first entered the Middle East market in 1980 with the Radisson SAS Hotel in Kuwait. It was its first hotel outside Scandinavia and it has remained its sole Middle East investment for many years. It was only recently that the company began expanding throughout the region, pledging to double its portfolio in two and a half years.
A key asset of Kuwait, these senior hoteliers agree, is its amalgamation of the old and the new, conservatism and modernism, tradition and creativity. Culture in Kuwait has come a long way and has a rich history to tell. Arts and crafts, music and dance, architecture and cuisine all play a vital part in defining the country’s heritage.
Architecture in Kuwait is unique and visitors will find that it reflects the presence of both typical traditional designs and more modern styles. Abushaar says: “Kuwait’s cultural side – textiles, historical buildings, old souks – is simply amazing. Instead of competing for tourism in the region, what Kuwait ought to do now is find a unique position, a niche market that other Gulf countries have not claimed so far, and I believe the focus of that should be Kuwait’s cultural riches.”
Mövenpick’s Wehbe agrees: “The most important consideration for Kuwait is to ensure that the country maintains its heritage and character. It is a historic nation which is proud of its traditions such as pearling, shipbuilding and falconry. So despite its planned growth, these characteristics will remain firmly on the tourism plan.”
Sheraton’s Abushaar, however, maintains that the country’s top attraction will still be its people: “The welcoming attitude of the local people translates into Kuwait being known as a destination that has a genuine appeal to it.” There is no doubt that experiencing first hand a culture renowned for its hospitality and generosity will create a lasting impression.
GETTING THERE
- The route is served by British Airways and Kuwait Airways from London Heathrow. Both carriers fly once daily.
- Return fares (for midweek flights one month ahead) booked online with ba.com are: first class £3,646, business class £1,300, World Traveller Plus £853 or World Traveller £430.
- Rates with Kuwait Airways when booked through travelocity.com are: first class £2,529, business class £1,500 or economy class £474.
- Other flight options involve taking indirect routings. KLM offers connections via Amsterdam, while Lufthansa will take you by Frankfurt.
- Travellers heading for the Gulf can access Kuwait by taking connections via Dubai with Emirates, via Abu Dhabi with Etihad, via Bahrain with Gulf Air or via Doha with Qatar Airways.
