KUWAIT CITY, Sept 1: Tourism and travel offices in Kuwait reported ticket sales worth 23.87 million dinars in July, marking a 3.7 percent increase from June’s 23 million dinars. Despite this monthly rise, total sales for the first seven months of 2024 reached approximately 150.79 million dinars, representing a 1.7 percent decline compared to the 153.15 million dinars recorded during the same period last year. The sales experienced a drop in the earlier months of 2024, with declines of 10 percent in January, 5 percent in February, and 2 percent in March.
However, they rebounded in April through July, coinciding with the start of the travel season. The reported figures reflect bookings made through the Bank Settlement Plan (BSP) system for traditional airlines and do not account for sales with low-cost carriers, which have seen an increase in market share. The rise in low-cost airline bookings has contributed to the observed decline in sales through traditional offices.
Additionally, the number of travel offices in Kuwait has grown from 400 to around 550, as some employees from larger agencies have opened their own home-based offices, reducing operating costs and increasing market competition. Passenger traffic at Kuwait International Airport was robust in June, with a total of approximately 1.35 million passengers. Arrivals totaled 580,718, while departures reached 770,255.
