Kuwait Lags Behind Gulf Neighbors in Tourist Visa Ease
Kuwait: Kuwait finds itself at the bottom of the pack among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries when it comes to the ease of obtaining tourist visas, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Global Tourist Visa Openness Index for 2023.
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The report ranked Kuwait last in the region with a score of 12.96, significantly lower than the UAE’s leading score of 67.80. Other GCC nations also fared better, with Bahrain at 58.32, Qatar at 52.29, Oman at 50.36, and even Saudi Arabia at 24.81.
The UNWTO’s index scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a more open and accessible tourist visa system.
This news comes despite a positive regional trend towards facilitating tourist visa access. The report highlights a decrease in the percentage of countries requiring traditional visas (from 71% in 2015 to 57% in 2023) and an increase in options like electronic visas and visas on arrival.
While the GCC as a whole has seen progress in this area, Kuwait appears to be lagging behind its neighbors. This may hinder its potential to attract tourists and contribute to the economic benefits associated with tourism.
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