KUWAIT, July 16 (KUNA) -- Authorities in charge of tourism have not done enough to promote this sector though much rhetoric has been heard in this regard, according to a study issued here on Monday.
The study, entitled "Marketing the Tourism Industry in the State of Kuwait," is conducted by a tourism instructor at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET).
It revealed vitually no planning in the tourism sector, thus creating many obstacles and problems at the economic, social and environmental levels.
Such obstacles will not appear in the way of countries that upgrade their tourism industry through a definite strategic marketing plan, it said.
On Kuwait's hot weather which is the major excuse of those who oppose promoting tourism, it pointed out that heat can be a weak point which hinders the development of tourism or a strong point depending on the adopted marketing plan.
The study underscored that Kuwait has untapped potentials and resources which could be appropriately used to attract a mass of tourists.
Tourism marketing and management specialist Nabeel Al-Khudari who conducted the study said his findings were reached after a thorough analysis of the exerted efforts to boost tourism in the world particularly the Gulf region.
This analysis is crucial to identify Kuwait's position on the global tourism map, he stated.
Tourism is a general concept, Al-Khudari pointed out, it covers various aspects such as family tourism which targets all members of the family specially children and sport tourism which attracts sport fans as well as athletes.
He underlined the difficulty facing tourism marketing compared to traditional marketing of products and goods.
He stressed the need to establish a comprehensive knowledge of tourism types before promotion.
The Kuwaiti specialist recommended that the government liberate the private sector from any restrictions concerning tourism development.
By Eman Al-Houti
