Since gaining its independence from Britain in 1961, Kuwait has been a constitutional monarchy whose ruler, called the Emir, has episodically shared some power with a National Assembly elected by adult male Kuwaitis. The reopening of this parliamentary body, suspended once in 1976 and again in 1986, became the goal of the pro-democracy Constitutionalist Movement in 1989-90. A compromise National Council, partially elected and partially appointed and with more limited power, was convened by the Emir just prior to the Iraqi invasion in 1990 and reconvened following the liberation in 1991. This did not, however, placate the popular opposition, which prompted the Emir to schedule elections for October 1992.
Kuwait recently launched a forum to promote domestic tourism and attract foreigners, saying it was time to open up the states doors after the overthrow of evil Saddam regime. Kuwaiti government now intends to develop tourism and compensate the lost in the past.
Since Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait in august 1990, Kuwait has remained virtually closed to foreign visitors who needed to pass through painful bureaucratic procedures to obtain a visit visa, mainly due to security concerns. But the state has made an irreversible decision to make tourism a strategic option for development. Kuwait is pinning great hopes on the way for developing a tourism industry in a country that raises more than 90 per cent of its income from oil.
Kuwait needed to focus on building a strong infrastructure for a tourism industry that would encompass new hotels, condominiums, restaurants, amusement parks, shopping malls, and tourist help offices. Kuwait, with its strategic location in the north of the gulf between regional powers Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia, is banking on luring gulf tourists in the first phase of a long term tourism plan. Studies show that 2.4 million residents of Kuwait, 62 per cent of whom are foreigners, spend more than two billion dollars a year during 1.3 million tourist trips abroad.
About 79 per cent of Kuwait’s population make at least one tourist trip every year, of whom 73 per cent travel abroad. Kuwait has only 29 hotels of various grades with 4,000 rooms, in addition to 1,700 rooms in furnished apartments and 1,350 rooms in small tourist resorts. It has only 10 entertainment sites, 23 cinemas and theatres, and 23 modern shopping malls in addition to a long and well-developed seafront. About 17 major touristic sites and resorts are under construction.
Kuwait has also decided to transform failaka island, about 12 km (7.5 miles) off the Kuwaiti coast, into a touristic site with several mega entertainment projects planned. Discos and liquor are banned in Kuwait, and hotels cannot stage musical concerts without a prior permit from the government.
Developers has given a progress report on ongoing works at three major projects on the islands of Bubyan, Failaka, and Khiran resorts area.
Jaid cape is a very good spot around the island where the water is deep enough to serve not only as a port in Kuwait, but also an international one that would be capable of harbouring giant vessels with heavy cargo, particularly with the anticipated heavy marine traffic needed for the Iraq reconstruction process.
Another project concerns developing the 46-km-long Sulaibikhat coast, and will include mainly tourist resorts, health centres, restaurants, hotels, and shopping malls.
The successful execution of these projects would constitute a gigantic leap in the development of Kuwait’s economy, since the main purpose of such projects is to promote the national economy through foreign investor participation, and creation of employment opportunities in the country.
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Eating Smart - Your Way to Better Health
Eating smart holds the key to live a better and healthy life. Eating smart not only means eating good food but also eating a variety of foods. Eating smart refers to identify specific steps to improve eating habits and managing your weight as well as adopting habits that make you live a healthier and longer life.
Planning Your Diet
To eat smart and achieve better health, you need to eat a variety of foods. It is important to eat foods of all kinds as each food provides specific nutrients that are necessary for good health. To maintain good health, all things should be taken in a balanced amount and eaten according to the needs of the body. To perform different functions, our body needs different food items which help it to function normally and in this context, we should eat smartly to achieve a better health.
Party Dresses with traditional trends and exotic looks
It is the season of weddings. And that means there are lots and lots of parties and ceremonial events coming up. With fashions changing at the drop of a hat, it becomes difficult, not to mention expensive, to keep up with trends. Whether you are attending your sister’s wedding or a colleague’s nuptials, a foolproof method to make your way through the party season is to stick with the classics.
Saris, lehngas, and long flowing kurtas with churidaar pajamas never look dated and can be worn over and over again. Corset-inspired halter tops are hot right now, paired with fitted lehngas. Creating a long, graceful silhouette, they are the perfect choice for those looking to make a dazzling entrance.
When it comes to formal wear, chiffon and silk dominate as the fabrics of choice for their light, luxe feel.
Does the prospect of receiving formal feedback from your boss, peers and subordinates in the form of a professional performance appraisal have your petrified to the core? Here are some tips from bayt.com on how to make the most of your performance appraisal and turn it to your advantage.
It's that dreaded time of year again. The rumour mill has it that those much-maligned annual performance reviews are already in the process of being churned by the HR departments and that this year they are even more rigorous and detailed than last year. The sudden silence from the HR quarters would seem to confirm this. Word even has it that last year's grades were considered "inflated" across the board and that this year managers were being coaxed to take a more subdued approach and "rein in" their accolades!
