Kuwait confirmed its crackdown on travel agent violations after receiving 3,012 complaints in 2025 in offices and consumers who were found to be facing fraud, misconduct and license violations.
The measures are part of a wider effort by the civil authority with Avility Civil to protect the rights of travelers and restore confidence in the country’s travel market.
The Authority’s appeal and arbitration reported significant action throughout 2025. On October 22, 2025, fines were issued for 66 violations involving travel agents who violated social license laws.
Kuwait travel fines
On November 13, new fines were imposed against eight travel agents and Aviation with one of the additions.
According to Abdullah Al-Rajhi, director of the Department of Air Transport in Paci and Head of the Committee, the Authority maintains an updated database of 890 offices and firms, including 828 travel offices and 73 airlines, all under its regulatory supervision.
Al-Rajhi said Paci plays a comprehensive regulatory role in monitoring licensed offices and detecting violations. He emphasized the commitment of authority to travelers and prevention of fraud through control methods and effective market surveillance.
Between January 1 and September 2025, Paci’s Complaints Department received 3 0,012 complaints, underscoring the level of consumer concern about travel-related misconduct.
Cyber scams and fraud under scrutiny
Al-Rajhi noted that the Authority is actively tracking new forms of Cyber Defining in collaboration with the Communication and Information Technology Authority (Cityra). These include:
- False ticket sales
- Illegal sellers
- Unmatched offices
- Illegal fees
- False Promotional Offers for Communications
He urged travelers to book only through licensed travel agencies, verify booking details and terms, and verify the validity of payment links before completing any transaction.
Looking ahead, Al-Rajhi said Paci is developing a future plan to strengthen monitoring systems, improve cooperation with security and commercial agencies, and launch public awareness campaigns to fight fraud and promote fraudulent bookings and promote safe bookings.
Industry calls for continued action
Mohammad Al-Mutairi, chairman of the Kuwait Travel and Tourism Agencies Association, criticized illegal sellers and travel agents that have the potential to damage the reputation of the country’s tourism sector and consumer confidence.
He said licensed travel agencies operate within statutory regulations and legal and professional responsibilities to their clients.
The main complaints, he noted, include fake tickets, cancellations without notice and misleading terisms to promote through Social Media Accounts.
Al-Mutairi added that the combined efforts between the Association, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Paci led to complaints compared to last year – evidence that public assurance and public awareness are beginning to produce positive results.
