The impending release of new through fares to the Gulf and Kuwait coupled with a visa on arrival policy earlier this year is expected "to encourage more Australians to stopover and see Kuwait," said Tony Brazenell, Area Manager, Australia & New Zealand, Kuwait Airways.

The fares which will be "very competitive" coupled with a hassle free US$25 visa issued on arrival and valid for one month, excellent infrastructure and a variety of unique-to-the-country attractions and activities should really put Kuwait on the radar for Australians in 2008, he said.

Mr Brazenell concedes that VRF traffic currently predominates out of Australia with passengers transiting Kuwait en route to other ports in the region.

[Pictured: The unique Kuwait Towers are a top tourist destination.

Beirut is the number one destination followed by Teheran and Amman.  We occasionally even get traffic for Iraq, he added.  (The carrier doesn't serve Baghdad so passengers fly to Kuwait City and then make an overland journey to Iraq.)

There certainly is "a curiosity factor" about Kuwait.  Agents could sell Kuwait to European-bound passengers as a "stopover with a difference" as Kuwait Airways also has good European fares, he said.

Around 99 per cent of Kuwait Airways business ex Australia is via Bangkok using interline partners. 

The national carrier has a daily A340 Airbus service linking Bangkok and Kuwait.  (This westbound flight commences in Manila.) 

There are other options, however.  Kuwait Airways also has two dedicated flights a week ex Jakarta with Kuala Lumpur served three times a week.

Meanwhile, Kuwait's concerted drive to boost tourism arrivals is being actively supported by the private and public sectors.

A 20 year tourism master plan developed by Kuwait in cooperation with the World Tourism Organisation and the United Nations Development Program commenced in 2005.

This initiative includes the development of additional hotels and resorts and leisure and recreational facilities.

Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole's Travel and Lifestyle Editor