KUWAIT CITY, June 12: In discus- sions with Al-Seyassah newspaper, experts emphasized the significance of revitalizing the tourism sector in Ku- wait to attract visitors, bolster develop- ment, and diversify sources of income.

Abdullah Al-Abd Al-Jader, an Ad- ministrative Advisor, underscored tourism's potential to diversify Ku- wait's income sources, advocating for the establishment of a dedicated. Ministry of Tourism. He lamented the neglect of tourist sites and urged restructuring of tourism projects, em- phasizing the need for experienced personnel to drive advancement of the sector.

Ahmed Al-Khasnam, an Economic Expert, attributed Kuwait's lag in tourism to governmental neglect and highlighted the urgency for revitaliza- tion. He called for land allocation to the private sector for expanding tourist parks and developing Kuwaiti islands to align with the national tourism vi- sion for 2035.

Qais Al-Ghanim, President of the Real Estate Appraisers Association, identified obstacles hindering tourism excellence in Kuwait, including unpre- pared tourist sites and visa restrictions.

He advocated for emulating suc- cessful tourism models from neighbor- ing countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE

Hamad Al-Hajri, a Real Estate Ex- pert, highlighted the stagnation in the residential and hotel sectors due to insufficient tourist influx. Salem Al- Hamoud, a Tourism Expert, lamented Kuwait's lack of domestic tourism and urged flexibility in visa issuance to re- juvenate the sector.

Psychological Consultant Dr. Falah Raheel emphasized the psychological importance of tourist facilities for citi- zens and residents, advocating for their availability as a means of psychologi- cal relief and treatment.

In the hotel sector, an anonymous expert disclosed that Kuwait's hotels are experiencing significant losses due to limited tourist visits, with oc- cupancy rates ranging from 40% to 60%. He expressed hope for sectoral recovery with the implementation of the unified Gulf tourist visa in Decem- ber 2024, facilitating movement across Gulf countries.

These discussions underscored the urgent need for concerted efforts to re- vitalize tourism in Kuwait, leveraging its potential as a key economic driver and enhancing its status as a global tourism destination..