Ras Al Khaimah expands tourist offering
The northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is aiming to boost its international tourist appeal by participating at World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAK TDA) will promote the UAE’s northernmost emirate as a premier tourism destination at the event, which takes place from 7-9 November 2016.
One of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the world, Ras Al Khaimah boasts a rich culture and long-standing history dating back 7,000 years, showcased by an array of archaeological sites and breathtaking natural vistas, from golden sand beaches, awe-inspiring terracotta dunes and a green belt of date palms to Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE.
RAK TDA’s participation at this year’s WTM promises to bring a wealth of exciting news, updates and announcements on the destination’s latest tourism products and offerings, including an upcoming via ferrata climbing route along Jebel Jais.
Global appeal
The event also provides an excellent platform for RAK TDA to flex the destination’s global appeal and boost international tourism arrivals as it aims to attract one million visitors by the end of 2018. Ras Al Khaimah has already recorded a 45 per cent increase in tourism arrivals from Europe this year, led by strong growth from Germany and the UK. In fact, UK visitor arrivals have grown by 33.2 per cent over 2015 and the number of nights Brits stay at Ras Al Khaimah’s hotels has increased by 25.6 per cent.
The emirate’s diverse natural landscapes, wide range of outdoor activities, expanding calendar of sporting, leisure, cultural and business events and convenient location 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport, make Ras Al Khaimah ripe for further expansion.
The destination currently offers over 5,000 rooms across 41 properties, with more than 3,000 rooms across 12 properties due to come on stream by 2018. By 2025, hotel capacity in the emirate is expected to increase to 20,000 rooms, many of which will be on Al Marjan Island, a stunning archipelago encompassing an area of 2.7 million square metres and extending 4.5 km into the sea.
Haitham Mattar, CEO of RAK TDA, said: “As the leading global event for the travel industry, WTM is the ideal opportunity for us to share and showcase all that Ras Al Khaimah has to offer, from our gorgeous natural assets, luxurious indulgence and many activities for a wide range of travellers to our authentic Arabian history, heritage and culture.
“I look forward to visiting London in November to promote our emirate to a worldwide audience.”
To learn more about Ras Al Khaimah, visit: www.rasalkhaimahtourism.com
