VisitBritain Unveils New Summer Campaign to Boost UK Tourism
KUWAIT CITY, 17 June: VisitBritain, Britain's national tourism agency, and the British Embassy Kuwait, jointly hosted an afternoon tea showcasing the UK's vibrant summer experiences and promoting travel beyond London. The event was hosted by Her Excellency Belinda Lewis, British Ambassador to Kuwait, at her official Residence and attended by members of the local media, travel influencers, and content creators.
Presenters showcased the breadth of Britain's tourism offering, with a focus on destinations and experiences outside of London. They also highlighted major events taking place this summer, including world-class sporting moments such as the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and the Wimbledon tennis tournament, Bath's festivities marking 250 years since the birth of renowned author Jane Austen, and the Liverpool Biennial, the UK's largest contemporary art festival.
Her Excellency Belinda Lewis, British Ambassador to Kuwait, said:
"We are delighted to welcome VisitBritain and media partners to the British Embassy today. As the long-standing bonds between the UK and Kuwait continue to strengthen, I am glad to see ever more Kuwaiti travellers choosing to visit the UK. The British Embassy is proud to support initiatives that encourage people to experience the rich diversity of that the UK's home nations have to offer."
Alongside the various summer experiences on offer, the event also outlined VisitBritain's new global campaign, ' Starring GREAT Britain'. Launched earlier this year, the campaign taps into the growing trend of 'set-jetting', whereby travellers visit destinations featured in popular films and television shows - encouraging visitors to explore iconic filming locations across England, Scotland, and Wales.
Gary Robson, VisitBritain Director for Europe, Middle East & India, said:
'Our collaboration with the British Embassy Kuwait is an invaluable opportunity to strengthen relationships in one of our key GCC markets. We're working closely with local media, influencers, and the travel trade to showcase the very best of Britain and encourage visitors to explore beyond London. Our culturally relevant campaigns, delivered in English and Arabic, are tailored to resonate locally through popular platforms such as Snapchat, which plays a key role in our engagement strategy across Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
In 2024, Kuwaiti nationals made 162,000 trips to the UK, representing a 6% increase from 2023, with an average spend of £2,641 per visitor. The Gulf region is the UK's tenth-largest source market globally, with 1.04 million visits, and Kuwait is forecast to have the third-highest visitor spend among GCC countries this year.
A major driver of this growth is the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, which has made visiting easier than ever. Kuwaiti nationals made 148,854 applications between February 2024 and March 2025, the second highest in the Gulf after Saudi Arabia. Kuwait and the UK also boast a number of regular direct flight connections, with 16 direct weekly flights from Kuwait City to London, along with additional services to Manchester.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab Times
17 hours ago
- Arab Times
Mick Ralphs, founding member of Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, dies at 81
LOS ANGELES, June 24, (AP): Mick Ralphs, a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and founding member of the classic British rock bands Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, has died. A statement posted to Bad Company's official website Monday announced Ralphs' death at age 81. Ralphs had a stroke days after what would be his final performance with the band at London's O2 Arena in 2016, and had been bedridden ever since, the statement said. No further details on the circumstances of his death were provided. Ralphs is set to become a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Bad Company in November. "Our Mick has passed, my heart just hit the ground," Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers said in a statement. "He has left us with exceptional songs and memories. He was my friend, my songwriting partner, an amazing and versatile guitarist who had the greatest sense of humour.' Ralphs wrote the 1970's song "Ready for Love' for Mott the Hoople, later revamped for Bad Company's 1974 debut album, which also included the Ralphs-penned hit "Can't Get Enough.' He co-wrote Bad Company's 1975 classic "Feel Like Makin' Love' with Rodgers. Born in Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, England, Ralphs began playing blues guitar as a teenager, and in his early 20s in 1966, he co-founded the Doc Thomas Group. In 1969, the band would become Mott the Hoople, a name taken from the title and title character of a 1966 novel by Willard Manus. The group's self-titled first album, recorded in a week, won a cult following, but the two that followed were critical and financial flops. They finally found popular success and became glam-rock giants with the 1972 David Bowie-penned-and-produced song "All the Young Dudes." But Ralphs felt creatively cramped in the band led by singer-songwriter Ian Hunter and left in 1973. He would soon form Bad Company with Rodgers, a singer who had left his own band, Free. The two had intended only to write songs together, and possibly to make a one-off album as a project. But when Free drummer Simon Kirke asked to sit in, they realized they were nearly a proper group already and went seeking a bassist. They found him in former King Crimson member Boz Burrell. "We didn't actually plan to have a band,' Ralphs said in a 2015 interview with Gibson Guitars. "It was all kind of accidental I suppose. Lucky, really.' Kirke said in a statement Monday that Ralphs was "a dear friend, a wonderful songwriter, and an exceptional guitarist. We will miss him deeply." Bad Company found immediate success. its albums were full of radio-ready anthems, and its live sound was perfectly suited to the 1970s height of arena rock. Their self-titled debut album went to No. 1 on Billboard's album chart. And Ralphs' "Can't Get Enough' - often mistakenly called "Can't Get Enough of Your Love' because of its chorus lyrics - would be their biggest hit single, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. "We actually did the whole thing in one take live,' Ralphs said in the Gibson interview. "It wasn't perfect, but we just said, 'Yeah, that's great, it's going to capture the moment.' That's what I like to do in recording. It doesn't have to be perfect as long as it captures the moment. That's what it's all about.' Bad Company's 1975 follow-up, "Straight Shooter,' was also a hit, going to No. 3 on album charts in both the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and the UK Albums Chart. Its opening track, "Good Lovin' Gone Bad,' written by Ralphs, was a modest hit, and the song that followed it, "Feel Like Makin' Love,' was a big one that would remain in rotation on classic rock radio for decades. The band's statement says Ralphs is survived by "the love of his life,' his wife Susie Chavasse, along with two children, three step-children, and "beloved bandmates' Rodgers and Kirke. "Our last conversation a few days ago we shared a laugh,' Rodgers said. "But it won't be our last.'
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
15 Kuwaiti artists celebrate Islamic aesthetics in ‘Noon'
KUWAIT: The Noon Art Group showcases 66 works blending Arabic calligraphy and Islamic ornamentation with contemporary vision, in an exhibition organized by the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL). — KUNA photos KUWAIT: A group of 15 Kuwaiti women artists brought the rich legacy of Islamic art to life through the debut exhibition of Noon Art Group, inaugurated on Sunday at the Museum of Modern Art. Organized by the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL), the event featured 66 works blending Arabic calligraphy and Islamic ornamentation with contemporary vision. The exhibit reflects a growing movement to preserve and reimagine Islamic artistic heritage, which remains one of the most profound expressions of spiritual and intellectual beauty. The exhibition not only celebrated the visual splendor of Islamic aesthetics, but also highlighted the pivotal role of Kuwaiti women in safeguarding and revitalizing this artistic tradition for new generations. At the heart of this initiative is Noon Art Group – a collective of women artists united by their passion for Islamic arts. Their journey began in 2017 during a series of workshops hosted by Kuwait's Islamic Arts Center. That shared experience eventually led to the formal founding of Noon in 2019 as a dedicated platform to showcase their evolving artistic voice. While the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily slowed their momentum, the group regrouped in 2024 with renewed commitment. 'We came together again with a shared vision to launch seasonal exhibitions grounded in the knowledge and techniques we've developed over the years,' the artists said. The June 2025 exhibit marks their first public showcase. Participating artists in the Noon exhibition include Mishaal Al-Tarabulsi (@mashael75), Sharefa Al-Asfour (@sharefa_alasfour_art), Khalida Al-Sinan (@ Abrar Al-Haleel (@abrar_kh17), Areej Al-Awadi (@areej_alawadi), Tayba Al-Asfour (@eng_ls4), Maryam Al-Asfour (@maryemls4), Areej Al-Salem (@areej_alsalem), Khawla Zamani (@kzamani), Zainab Al-Tarabulsi (@ Shaima Al-Jaafar (@shaima_aljaafar), Fatima Al-Qattan, Noora Al-Ghareeb (@nouraq8_89), Huda Al-Hunaidi (@hints_of_art), and Widad Al-Bannai (@amazing__calligraphy). Through their work, these artists reaffirm that Islamic art is not merely a visual heritage, but a living language of expression — woven into Kuwait's architecture, places of worship, visual arts, and everyday life. The Noon exhibition is both a tribute to tradition and a bold step forward in reimagining it — proof that when cultural heritage meets collective creativity, something enduring is born. — Agencies
Arab Times
a day ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait Suspends Air Traffic in Response to Regional Escalation
KUWAIT CITY, June 23: The State of Kuwait has announced the temporary closure of its airspace as a precautionary measure in response to escalating regional developments. The move, effective immediately and until further notice, aligns with similar steps taken by several neighboring countries. Authorities stated that the decision aims to safeguard national security and ensure the safety of the public amid heightened tensions in the region. The closure applies to all incoming and outgoing flights, with ongoing coordination taking place between Kuwaiti agencies and international partners to assess the evolving situation. In line with the government's directive, Kuwait Airways has announced the suspension of all departing flights from Kuwait until further notice, citing passenger safety and compliance with national aviation directives. The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has called on all travelers and airlines to closely follow official updates and fully cooperate with the implemented measures. The DGCA stressed that the decision was made in the public interest and that further announcements will be issued as necessary.
