Kuwait: For your leisure

While Kuwait remains a strong business travel destination, the country is ramping up its leisure facilities and targeting the intra-regional travel market, says Caroline Tapken.

Although Kuwait is predominantly a business travel destination, with Government plans to transform the kingdom into a regional trade and financial hub over the next few years, there is also a renewed focus on developing the tourism infrastructure in a controlled manner, targeting one million local and intra-regional tourist arrivals by 2010.

Leisure developments

 

In 2006, the Kuwait Tourism Master Plan Study was completed in co-operation with the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations for Development Projects (UNDP) and developments are already coming close to completion on some key projects.

Driven by the youthful nation - more than 50% of the population is under the age of 25 - developments in the leisure industry are geared towards the young.

There are mega malls offering retail, dining and entertainment facilities and amusement park projects that include a joint venture between Cartoon Network and Future Kid & Real Estate Company, slated to open in Kuwait City by the end of the year.
 

In addition, there are plans to develop Failaka Island, home to Kuwait's most significant archaeological site, which will include hotels, shops, residential complexes and restaurants.

Developments in entertainment include the 99 Village, which will bring Islam-inspired characters to life - THE 99 are 99 heroes with powers reflecting the attributes of Allah.

Due to open this month (October) in Jahra, Kuwait, with rides, games and other amusements, the 99 Village will include a stage show telling the story of THE 99 with life-sized characters leading tours around the park.

Kuwait is not without existing family attractions and some of the best include the Kuwait Scientific Centre - home to (currently) the largest aquarium in the Middle East, walk-through exhibits highlighting the natural habitats of the sea, the coastal plans and the desert of the Arabian Peninsula as well as Discovery Place with hand's-on oil-related scientific experiments and games teaching children through play.

The IMAX theatre is housed under the same roof, with science-oriented 2- and 3-D movies - it is a must-see for any family visiting Kuwait.

The Kuwait Towers are arguably one of the kingdoms most famous landmarks. Comprising three structures, two with large spheres designed to resemble the ornate Arabian perfume bottles.
 

There is also a restaurant and viewing platform with panoramic views of the coastline to visit.

Of Islamic interest, the Museum of Islamic Antiquities contains more than 20,000 pieces of rare Islamic antiques and 7000 books, while the Tariq Rajab Museum houses ancient manuscripts of the Holy Koran, musical instruments, antique Arabic Islamic furniture and clothing, hand painted Arabic scripts, Islamic pottery and Arabic jewellery.

Getting to Kuwait

 

Visas on arrival are now available for 35 nationalities and residents of the GCC, making it easier to enter the country and inbound flights to Kuwait are also additionally offered by all the major international and regional airlines.

Kuwait Airways claims one of its "visions and goals" is "to become the preferred carrier for inbound business travellers" and with 26-plus Middle Eastern destinations under its belt, is well on the way to achieving that goal.
 

Another Kuwait-based airline, low-cost carrier (LCC) Jazeera Airways, serves 22 regional cities new while start-up carrier Wataniya Airways will be launching a Kuwait-based premium airline in 2009 with routes yet to be determined.

Etihad Airways flies twice daily from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait operating morning and evening flights. The airline recently opened a sales office in the city to further strengthen its presence in the country.

Sharjah-based LCC Air Arabia also serves Kuwait with two flights daily and fares averaging 40% less than regular economy class airlines.

Arabia witnessed a 14% increase in traffic between Sharjah and Kuwait during the first half of 2008, with roughly 83,000 passengers comprising a varied mix of families, students, business and leisure travellers.

According to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, Kuwait International Airport saw increases across all sectors during August with total passenger arrivals up by 7% to 448,663 - a positive indicator for the in-bound tourism industry.

Hotel developments

As a business travel destination, Kuwait currently offers around 5000 rooms in 20 properties strongly represented by the major international hotel chains with occupancies averaging 62% in 2007.
 

By 2010/2011 the number of available rooms is expected to double, with 2300 due to come online in 2009 alone. Serviced apartment numbers are also doubling to 4000 by 2010.

Hotel developments to watch include the Missoni Hotel Kuwait (a Rezidor brand) scheduled to open during the first half of 2009.

This luxury property will be located in a new hotel/entertainment/shopping complex set on the waterfront and dubbed as Kuwait's first major lifestyle hotel.

The Rezidor Group also has strong ties with Kuwait having opened the Radisson SAS there 27 years ago.

The company's regional director sales and marketing, Craig Senior, says sales generated into Kuwait are on the whole, business travel related - either individual travel or groups for regional meetings.

"Leisure business is driven by the GCC markets, primarily Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain, but this segment is currently limited," he says.
 

"Average room rates are US $235, an increase of 17% on the previous year, with occupancy stable at around 63%; this trend is expected to continue into 2010."

Pressure will be exerted on existing properties to maintain average rates and occupancy when hotels under construction such as the Jumeirah Messila, Four Seasons, InterContinental, Ramada, Hilton and Novotel come online.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is also focussing on the business travel market with the unveiling of the new InterContinental Kuwait Downtown set to open early 2010 located in close proximity to the government and business district in central Kuwait City.

"Kuwait is one of the region's most important business markets and there is significant need for more lavish and elegant hotel rooms coupled with modern business facilities; having the InterContinental brand present [in Kuwait] will cater to this demand," says John Bamsey, COO IHG Middle East & Africa.

"IHG's growth in Kuwait is testament to the confidence IHG as in the country and its thriving corporate travel industry".

With few of the planned hotels focussing on the intra-regional leisure traveller, city resort hotels like The Moevenpick Hotel & Resort Al Bida'a, which is set on a private beach and offers four swimming pools, a kids' club, comprehensive water sports facilities and a spa, as well as business, meetings and convention facilities, are set to lure the regional family market.

Moevenpick Al Bida'a director of sales and marketing Ali Haddad says the Government is trying to encourage domestic tourists to remain in Kuwait for their weekend and holiday breaks through the development of attractive resorts.

He adds: "We opened our spa earlier this year, which is already proving popular for the local market and we expect to see an increase in intra-regional travel particularly families from Saudi Arabia and Qatar."