Omar Al-Omar, Kuwait’s minister of communications and acting minister of information, culture and youth affairs, held talks with Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khatib on the sidelines of the 10th GCC meeting of tourism officials hosted in Manama. The two sides examined ways to draw on their respective strengths to encourage greater movement of travelers between the countries while advancing shared interests. Discussions took place within the framework of the bloc’s broader push to implement a unified tourism strategy running through 2030 that stresses joint promotion and easier regional travel.
Data reviewed at the ministerial session showed GCC destinations attracted more than 75 million visitors in 2025, a 4.8 percent increase from the prior year, according to regional statistical compilations. Tourist spending topped 131 billion dollars that year while intra-GCC travel surpassed 20 million people, up 3.6 percent, the same figures indicated. Tourism’s overall contribution to GCC economies reached 254 billion dollars, representing 11.4 percent of combined gross domestic product.
The World Travel and Tourism Council has placed Saudi Arabia at the forefront of Middle East tourism growth, with the sector contributing 14.1 percent to national GDP in 2025 assessments. Saudi authorities recorded 7.4 percent expansion in tourism-related output that year, nearly double the global average, as large-scale projects under Vision 2030 continue to come online. The kingdom now targets 150 million annual visitors by 2030, a goal that has already driven substantial investment in infrastructure and hospitality capacity.
Kuwait has stepped up its own tourism development as part of efforts to reduce reliance on oil revenues, including airport expansions and streamlined visa processes that facilitate entry for GCC nationals and international guests alike. Recent policy adjustments have sought to highlight the country’s cultural sites and modern offerings to complement neighboring destinations. Alignment with Saudi initiatives could help amplify Kuwait’s visibility within packaged regional itineraries.
The ministers’ conversation built on a 2022 memorandum of understanding between the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information and the Saudi Ministry of Tourism that outlined cooperation on legislation, site development, statistics and knowledge exchange. Deep historical and economic bonds between the two states provide a solid platform for creating joint tourism products such as themed routes or coordinated festivals. Earlier joint committees covering culture, media and other fields have laid groundwork that indirectly aids visitor movement.
GCC participants at the Bahrain gathering stressed the importance of accelerating priority projects with measurable timelines to sustain momentum gained since the sector’s post-pandemic recovery. A unified Gulf tourist visa under consideration would further reduce barriers and present the region as one integrated destination to long-haul markets in Europe and Asia. Past coordinated campaigns have demonstrably lifted both satisfaction levels and repeat visits across member states.
