Amidst the region's fierce competition in the food hospitality sector, the State of Kuwait continues to solidify its position as a "distinctive" regional destination, thanks to the vast diversity of its local and international restaurants and the quality of their services.

In this context, the role of digital food bloggers stands out. They have contributed to conveying gourmet experiences to the public, turning them into engaging content that reaches thousands of followers on social media platforms, making Kuwait an "attractive" hub for food lovers from various cultures.

On Kuwait's vibrant streets, where the lights of modern restaurants and cafes glitter, many line up to try dishes featuring global and local flavors. This diverse scene and lively interaction have granted Kuwait an advanced status on the regional map of taste and hospitality.

In support of the country's tourism and economic development system, "restaurant bloggers" rose to prominence on social media platforms, relying on photos and short posts for restaurant enthusiasts. However, over time, their role became more organized and professional. They transformed into digital media entities that convey their field experiences to their followers and friends using professional cameras and precise evaluations regarding quality, service level, presentation, and overall ambiance.

Due to the influence of digital bloggers, their reviews of modern restaurants and cafes now play a direct role in influencing consumer decisions, especially if negative reviews are issued about a restaurant. Public trust in it declines, directly impacting footfall and sales figures. Recent studies confirm that consumers heavily rely on the opinions of these bloggers, who have become a powerful pressure tool pushing restaurant management to improve their service and product quality to avoid any potential losses.

According to the platform "Scots International," specialized in evaluating global service markets, the revenue of Kuwait's food service market reached approximately $3.25 billion in 2024, with projections of growth to around $4.88 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. Meanwhile, the global company "Verified Market" predicted that the revenue of the country's restaurants, cafes, and cloud kitchens market would jump to $38 billion with an estimated annual growth rate of 10% by 2032, coupled with an increase in revenue from arrivals for tourism and enjoying its restaurants.

According to the Direct Investment Promotion Authority, the country's tourism sector index is expected to jump from $522 million in 2021 to about $1.13 billion by the end of this year.

Thanks to the diversity of restaurants, their high quality, and the serious digital content provided by food bloggers, Kuwait has managed to distinguish its restaurant scene regionally and capture an advanced position in the global restaurant market, surpassing global cities famous for quality standards and innovation. "Restaurant tourism" has emerged in the country as a new facet of Kuwaiti tourism, also recording increasing interest from visitors who come to Kuwait seeking exciting and delicious restaurant experiences recommended by influential bloggers in the digital sphere.

Data also confirmed that increased tourist spending on restaurants, especially during major events and sports competitions, shows that digital content has become a key touchpoint between the visitor and the local scene.

Among the most prominent challenges bloggers face is maintaining the credibility of their reviews amidst the proliferation of paid commercial collaborations. For this reason, food bloggers have recommended the necessity of establishing clear professional rules, such as full disclosure of any commercial cooperation and adopting objective standards for fair and transparent evaluation, amid expectations that their role will grow in the coming period to support the country's tourism and economic development system.

In this context, the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) conducted interviews on Sunday with a number of the most famous bloggers, after the food sector became an influential space in their lives in terms of marketing, promotion, and highlighting Kuwait as a unique tourist destination in the food hospitality sector.

Blogger Abdulrahman Al-Qwaiee said that the field of restaurant blogging in Kuwait has seen noticeable development in recent years, evolving from a mere hobby and passion into a profession influencing public taste and the country's cultural identity. He added that a successful blogger does not just display photos and share recommendations; they must also have the ability to evaluate and be knowledgeable about diverse kitchen cultures and their ingredients, especially in a country rich with diverse local and international restaurants. He mentioned that local Kuwaiti restaurants are widely popular and in high demand as they express the essence of a society that has preserved dishes that are part of its authentic identity.

For his part, blogger Abdulaziz Al-Najjar spoke about the beginning of his blogging experience, which initially involved sharing healthy eating options at restaurants with followers and friends before his idea evolved into the "cheat meal," where an athlete rewards themselves after a full week of sports discipline and healthy eating. He said that Kuwait has become a distinguished destination for gourmets due to the unique and diverse palate of the Kuwaiti people, which pushes restaurants to exert extra effort to improve their food quality and service level. He affirmed that bloggers' recommendations are more influential today due to their credibility and transparency in presentation and evaluation, enhancing public trust in them.

On his part, blogger Muadhad Adnan said his blogging experience began when he decided to go out and taste all the varieties offered in restaurants and cafes and share his spontaneous experience on social media platforms, explaining that this had a direct impact on the sales of some restaurants. He clarified that Kuwait is unique compared to other markets because it has contained global and diverse cuisines since the 1960s, which helped the Kuwaiti people develop a strong palate and an ability to distinguish and evaluate. Regarding how to maintain credibility amidst numerous commercial collaborations, Adnan expressed his absolute refusal to advertise any food product that does not align with his taste, stressing the necessity of establishing a professional framework that regulates bloggers' work according to clear standards for professional evaluation.