By: Eman Ghaly

Mubasher: Kuwaitis have spent 31.38% more on tourism abroad during the first half of the year (H1), according to a Mubasher survey based on the data of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK).

Spending on tourism reached KWD 2.818 billion ($9.304 billion) by the end of H1-19, compared with KWD 2.145 billion ($7.082 billion) for the same period last year, and distributed over the first and second quarters of the year at KWD 1.44 billion and 1.378 billion, respectively.

In 2018, spending on tourism abroad by Kuwaiti nationals amounted to KWD 4.03 billion, rising by 17.6%, compared with KWD 3.43 billion in 2017.

Kuwait’s residents reached 4.82 million, of which 1.42 million are Kuwaiti nationals and 3.4 million are expats.