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Ras Al Khaimah looks to double visitor numbers

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Ras Al Khaimah... value-for-money destination

THE Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Investment and Development Authority (RAK TIDA), launched earlier this year, is looking to double visitor numbers to the emirate in the next two years.

The authority will launch a rigorous development and promotional schedule of programmes in the near future. Both the activities conducted to date and those in the pipeline have the objective to firmly position Ras Al Khaimah regionally and on a global level as a leisure, adventure and a value-for-money destination.

The authority has been actively visible at a number of international travel shows, including Leisure Moscow, the World Travel Market in London with plans to attend the ITB Berlin travel exhibition in March 2012 and the Arabian Travel Market in May 2012.

Additionally, RAK TIDA will launch its new logo and branding to reflect the authority’s new focus and objectives and launch a rebranded and revitalised website.

Following the vision of Ras Al Khaimah’s Ruler HH Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi,, the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Investment and Development Authority was established in May 2011 to both develop and promote the rising Emirate’s tourism potential domestically, regionally and internationally. Since its establishment, separate tourism and hospitality divisions have been created to oversee the various activities of business and investment development, commercial and research activities, licensing, public relations and marketing.

Victor Louis, chief operating officer for the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Investment and Development Authority, said: “The importance of tourism for the future social, economic and environmental development and preservation of Ras Al Khaimah cannot be underestimated. In accordance with this the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Investment and Development Authority (RAK TIDA) was established.”

Louis adds: “The government is investing in tourism development projects worth Dh600 million ($163 million) between now and 2012 with the aim of increasing the number of visitors to the emirate to 1.2 million in 2013 compared to 600,000 visitors in 2010. To accommodate the increasing number of visitors, Ras Al Khaimah is developing new hotels, resorts and villas, which will result in a total inventory of 10,000 hotel rooms by the year 2016. This will be achieved by positioning Ras Al Khaimah as a quality value-for-money destination, offering leisure and adventure experiences for visitors seeking an enhanced experience of the UAE.”

Already major projects and initiatives has been implemented to achieve these goals with the Government of Ras Al Khaimah signing an agreement with Rakeen Development in May 2011, completing the acquisition of the exclusive desert resort of Banyan Tree Al Wadi, where the authority is currently overlooking the master plan for the resort’s expansion and upgrade. Additionally the 600-room Marjan Island family resort being developed on five man-made islands off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah is scheduled to open doors later this year.

Furthermore, there are plans to develop a series of mountain resorts 900 m above sea level. A strategic advantage for these mountain resorts is the location’s climate, where the temperature will remain up to 12 degrees less than that at ground level, offering the perfect summer retreat for the UAE residents and visitors.

There are a number of hotel developments scheduled to open including the Ras Al Khaimah Waldorf Astoria, marking the entry of the luxury brand of Hilton Worldwide in the UAE in October 2012 and the Al Hamra Fort Hotel & Beach Resort, scheduled to open as a Hilton Hotels & Resorts branded property in 2013.

Several new tourism experiences are also on the agenda with the “Pearl Farm and Pearl Museum” scheduled to launch early next year. This new attraction will be the first of its kind in the Gulf region and will offer visitors unique opportunities to both learn and experience first-hand the processes of natural pearl production.

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