KUWAIT CITY – A recent economic report based on the analysis released by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry affirmed that Kuwaitis spent $7.4 billion on family tourism in 2013, Al-Kuwaitiah daily reported. It revealed that the GCC countries contribute about 31 percent of the total expenditures on tourism activities regardless of the low population in the region which is only about 3 percent of the world Muslims.
Saudi Arabia is a major source of family tourism by spending $17.1 billion on tourism in 2013 while the people of UAE spent $ 10.1 billion and those of Kuwait spent $ 7.4 billion in addition to the people of Iran who spent about $18.2 billion on family tourism in 2013.
The analysis indicated that family tourism has flourished to a great extent from $ 137 billion in 2012 to $140 billion in 2013.
There are speculations that the value will rise up to about $181 billion by 2018 considering the growth of the Islamic World population and their economic progress.
The American Embassy in Kuwait has affirmed an increase in the demand for American visas particularly by students, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily. Representatives from the American Embassy explained that the students must pay the fees at Burgan Bank, register in the website and state the receipt number and book for an appointment.
They said 90 percent of the applicants receive the visas within 3-5 days after their interviews, revealing that the embassy has issued more than 5,000 student visas in the last 12 months. They added that they are expecting the number of visas issued this year to be higher than last year.
“The students must apply early for the visa and submit all required documents including the visa application form, passport and photographs as well as the admission letter from the American university and receipt of the visa fees,” they added. — Agencies
