海湾合作委员会隐藏的明珠

© Oliver WymanABSTRACTThe Gulf region is experiencing a meteoric transformation in its tourism sector, with substantialinvestments and the development of strategic tourism blueprints across the Gulf CooperationCouncil (GCC). Tourism not only allows the region’s economies to diversify and reduce theirreliance on the hydrocarbon industry but also provides a showcase for cultural history, boostsa range of businesses, and fosters national pride.Like its neighbors, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, Kuwait presentsopportunities for exploration that cater to a variety of interests. Historical sites offer glimpsesinto a past where Kuwait thrived as a bustling trade hub connecting the world’s markets.Its coastline beckons with the promise of ecotourism adventures and marine outings, whilethe Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Cultural Center, also known as the Kuwait Opera House, offers acontemporary selection of local and international performances.Yet despite its potential, Kuwait often falls behind on its promise of tourism projects that couldnot only serve to retain local tourism but also attract foreign interest that allows the country toclaim its rightful place as a tourism destination in the GCC.The following report highlights regional successes and outlines suggestions that could helpKuwait make its mark on the tourism map. © Oliver WymanTHE RISE OF TOURISM IN THE GULFWith its diversity of offerings, cultural richness and natural beauty, the GCC is an obviousdestination of choice. To encourage a significant increase in the number of visitors to GCCcountries by 2030, individual countries have developed blueprints, guided by the followingthree key objectives:Catalyzing and diversifying the local economyAn influx of tourists boosts revenue for businesses, creates job opportunities, and stimulatesvarious sectors of the economy, allowing adequate diversification and reducing the region’sdependency on the hydrocarbon industry. From hospitality and food and beverage to retailand entertainment, a thriving tourism sector creates jobs and generates non-hydrocarbonrevenue streams.Bolstering a nation’s global brandTourism can favorably position countries on the global map. GCC countries have activelyleveraged tourism to showcase their cultures by hosting ambitious large-scale events suchas Expo 2020 Dubai, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and the upcoming Expo 2030 in SaudiArabia. When tourists have a positive experience, they become ambassadors, fosteringmutual understanding and building bridges between nations. These positive testimonialsattract more leisure travelers and eventually potential operators and investors.Enriching national pride and cultural heritageTourism provides a platform for communities to showcase their cultural heritage, traditions,and arts — promoting cross-cultural appreciation and strengthening local identity. Thepresence of tourists also fosters a sense of responsibility among local communities topreserve landmarks, historical sites, and cultural heritage.In addition to the strategic blueprints, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have led the waywith well-defined tourism strategies and target sectors. While Qatar has positioned itselfas a sporting nation, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have adopted a holistic tourism and leisurestrategy encompassing nature, culture and heritage, entertainment, luxury tourism, sports,and e-gaming. As a result, each of these countries is not only internationally recognized aslandmark tourist destinations, but also associated with worldwide events (Exhibit 1). © Oliver WymanIn contrast to its neighboring countries, which have significantly increased their investmentsinto diversifying tourism offerings while capitalizing on emerging travel trends, Kuwait hasallocated minimal resources to renovating or expanding its tourism sector. For example,Kuwait Entertainment City, a popular amusement park which opened in the 1980s on thewestern side of Kuwait City, closed in 2016 due to lack of investment. It was demolished in2020 with no permanent viable alternative entertainment made available to local customers.Meanwhile, Silk City (also known as Madinat Al Hareer), which was projected to be an$85 billion investment including the iconic Burj Mubarak Al-Kabeer, has seen minimalprogress having undergone several master plans and changes since its proposal in 2006.Failaka Island, located just off the coast of Kuwait City, is another potential tourismdestination known for its rich cultural heritage and glimmering coastline. Despite thepromising concept discussed over a decade ago, the project has stalled and has yet tosee significant progress (Exhibit2).Exhibit 2: Overview of Silk City, Boubyan and Failaka IslandsBoubyan IslandIncludes the MubarakAl-Kabeer Marine ReserveSilk CityMega urban projectincluding 1,001-metre tallmixed-use tower, BurjMubarak al-KabirFailaka IslandHospitality, leisure andheritage destination tobe revivedCultural attractionsNatural attractionsArchaeol