Arab Tourism Card May Replace Passport

Tourism is becoming a more important sector of the economy as Arab countries work towards diversifying their economy. Gulf countries aim to make the tourism sector a key component of the economy, not just a fringe sector. Tourists from the Gulf region tend to be big spenders in comparison to those from the United States and Europe, so an ID card to make travel more convenient in the region, would boost the tourism industry. Kuwait in 2008 began accepting the ‘Gulf Smart Card’ – a common passport for citizens of GCC countries (Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE).