The Kuwait Tourism Forum 2026 gathered tourism leaders and stakeholders nationwide.
The forum brought together leading experts and industry figures, exploring tourism opportunities and discussing the future of Kuwait’s tourism sector together. Moreover, discussions highlighted Kuwait’s remarkable tourism transformation during 2026 through major projects, events, and hospitality developments, supporting economic diversification nationally. The event also reflected Kuwait’s broader vision, strengthening its position as a global tourism and investment destination under Vision 2035 nationally.
Aviation expansion
Forum discussions highlighted Jazeera Airways continuing expansion alongside Kuwait’s ambitious aviation infrastructure development plans supporting tourism growth nationwide. Additionally, the new Kuwait International Airport is expected opening completely during late 2026, significantly increasing annual passenger capacity nationwide. Industry leaders noted the airport expansion could increase Kuwait’s annual passenger capacity toward 27 million travelers, supporting tourism investment opportunities regionally. Furthermore, tourism experts emphasized stronger air connectivity remains essential attracting international visitors while supporting Kuwait’s expanding hospitality sector nationally today.
Tourism potential
Jazeera Airways CEO, Barathan Pasupathi, highlighted Kuwait’s untapped tourism opportunities during keynote discussions at the forum. “Kuwait possesses significant tourism potential through strategic location, expanding connectivity, strong cultural identity, and growing hospitality infrastructure, supporting future tourism growth. Government institutions, airlines, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, tour operators, financial institutions, SMEs, and private sectors can collectively support tourism development under unified national strategies promoting Visit Kuwait and Vision 2035 goals,” said Pasupathi. He additionally explained that tourism stimulates spending across aviation, hospitality, retail, transportation, entertainment, food and beverage, real estate and digital services industries nationwide today. Furthermore, Pasupathi noted tourism revenues benefit airlines, hotels, restaurants, malls, local businesses, tourist attractions, and SMEs throughout Kuwait increasingly today.
Economic benefits
Pasupathi additionally highlighted tourism’s role supporting employment creation and long-term human capital development opportunities across Kuwait nationally today. “Tourism creates jobs across aviation, hospitality, entertainment, marketing, logistics, entrepreneurship and tourism services, while strengthening national economic resilience,” Pasupathi stated during discussions. Moreover, he stressed tourism growth requires infrastructure investment, simplified visa procedures, destination marketing, stronger connectivity and coordinated partnerships nationwide consistently.
Boutique destination
Forum discussions emphasized Kuwait’s positioning as a boutique tourism destination offering authentic cultural experiences for international travelers regionally today. Unlike neighboring Gulf destinations, Kuwait aims attracting travelers seeking refined hospitality, heritage experiences and personalized tourism services across Kuwait. Consequently, tourism leaders believe Kuwait’s calmer tourism identity creates stronger differentiation within the increasingly competitive regional tourism market today.
Tourism trends
The forum additionally explored emerging tourism trends influencing travel behavior across GCC markets and international tourism industries during 2026 worldwide. Furthermore, participants discussed multigenerational travel experiences, alongside increasing demand for customized hospitality services targeting GCC travelers visiting Kuwait increasingly today. Moreover, industry specialists also examined set jetting trends, where destinations gain popularity through films, television productions and digital entertainment platforms globally. In addition, tourism experts stressed that adapting tourism strategies toward evolving traveler expectations remains essential maintaining long term regional competitiveness successfully today.
Public private cooperation
Nasser Al-Obaid highlighted stronger cooperation between public and private sectors, supporting tourism based economic growth nationwide today. “Kuwait possesses essential tourism growth ingredients, including security, cultural heritage, infrastructure, connectivity, and vibrant private sector activity, supporting tourism expansion,” Al-Obaid stated during the forum. Furthermore, Al-Obaid stressed success depends upon coordinated planning, supportive legislation, infrastructure investment, and adopting successful tourism models strategically nationwide.
Strategic agreement
Jazeera Airways signed a memorandum with the Kuwait Hotels Association, supporting stronger tourism sector collaboration nationwide. The agreement highlighted growing cooperation between aviation and hospitality sectors, supporting Kuwait’s long term tourism development ambitions moving forward nationally.
Mohamed Najia, secretary general at Kuwait Hotel Owners Association, emphasized hospitality sector collaboration remains essential, supporting Kuwait’s tourism growth ambitions nationally today.
“Kuwait possesses strong tourism potential through strategic connectivity, hospitality expertise, infrastructure development, and a clear national tourism vision supporting future growth. However, achieving sustainable tourism growth requires stronger public and private sector collaboration, stakeholder integration, enhanced regional tourism and coordinated national strategies. Furthermore, continued development of the Visit Kuwait platform remains essential for supporting tourism promotion, visitor engagement, innovation and stronger international destination visibility. Tourism additionally supports economic diversification, investment growth, job creation, and long term opportunities benefiting future Kuwaiti generations across multiple industries.”
Discussions
The forum additionally featured a panel discussion titled “Kuwait’s Tourism Potential and How to Activate It”. Participants explored tourism opportunities alongside challenges facing Kuwait’s tourism sector, while discussing strategies supporting future tourism development nationally together. Presentations were additionally delivered by Sulaiman Al-Gharib, director of operations at Visit Kuwait, and Dominic Axman, senior economist at Oxford Economics. The presentations focused on tourism opportunities, hospitality readiness, infrastructure, air connectivity, and tourism’s role supporting Kuwait’s economic diversification efforts nationally.
