The Belgian Embassy organized an event to promote tourism where Ambassador Christian Dooms emphasized that many Kuwaitis remain unaware of the destinations his country offers across historical, cultural and natural heritage sites. Dooms outlined how Belgium delivers a full tourism package blending city visits, landscapes, shopping, festivals and renowned cuisine suited to varied preferences. He noted that the country’s small scale makes it simple for visitors to move between multiple locations during a single trip.
Dooms described Brussels as a hub beyond its role hosting European Union institutions, filled with landmarks, museums and diverse activities. The ambassador highlighted prominent cities including Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp along with coastal resorts and the Ardennes natural region. Belgium additionally serves as venue for global events such as the Tomorrowland music festival and the Formula 1 race at Spa-Francorchamps.
Dooms disclosed that his office is advancing plans for direct flights between Kuwait and Belgium since the absence of nonstop routes limits visitor numbers from the Gulf state. He added that indirect travel also makes it difficult to track exact passenger figures from Kuwait. Representatives from Belgian travel agencies are set to visit Kuwait soon to present tourism options and build stronger exchange according to the envoy.
Investment cooperation between the two countries stands at a solid level especially in petrochemicals Dooms stated. The Port of Antwerp is involved in a current public tender in Kuwait with results expected in the near term. The ambassador expressed hope that economic ties can broaden into further areas serving mutual interests.
Discussions on defense collaboration continue with a recent visit by the Belgian military attaché to Kuwait. Dooms said another such visit is planned for September or October to pursue additional opportunities. These steps form part of ongoing efforts to reinforce bilateral relations across sectors.
Kuwaiti travelers made 5.5 million outbound visits in 2025 with total spending of $11.71 billion according to VisitBritain market research. The United Kingdom ranks as their leading Western European destination leaving potential for other nearby countries such as Belgium to capture more interest. Existing diplomatic and trade connections could support increased tourism if direct flights materialize as proposed.
