Tag Archives: RAKTDA

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) reports its best year for tourism ever, welcoming a record 1.22 million overnight arrivals to the nature Emirate in 2023, up 8% on 2022 numbers and bolstered by a significant 24% year-on-year pick-up in international visitors. The robust performance is underscored by RAKTDA’s strategic growth plans. From investment in tourism infrastructure, targeted initiatives to drive more visitors to the emirate, to developing an ecosystem rooted in sustainability, Ras Al Khaimah continues to reinforce its position as a destination of the future. Its key 2023 achievements include: • A 24% increase in international visitors, supported by over 2,200 international activities from roadshows, trade fairs to media events across 30 countries. • Cemented status as a business and social events hub with a 23% growth in MICE revenue and 103% increase in revenue from weddings. • Silver Certification under EarthCheck’s world-leading Sustainable Destinations programme – the only destination in the Middle East to receive this level of certification alongside more than 20 tourism partners from hotels and attractions. • Featured in CNN Travel’s best destinations to visit in 2023; Condé Nast Traveler’s best places to go in Asia 2024; Travel + Leisure India’s Forget Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah Is The Place To Be In The UAE; and Forbes’ Why You Should Visit Ras Al Khaimah Now. • Boosted international air connectivity with the introduction of direct flights with Qatar Airways, Indian carrier IndiGo’s, Smart Wings, Centrum Air and SmartLynx. • Launched borderless travel with Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) for cross-destination tourism promotion and marketing initiatives, boosting visitor arrivals to Ras Al Khaimah and Musandam. • Debut of Anantara Mina Al Arab …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collectively initiate and pursue cross-destination tourism promotion and marketing initiatives between the Musandam Governorate, Sultanate of Oman and the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The agreement was signed in London at WTM, between Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and Dr. Hashil Obaid Al Mahrouqi, Chief Executive Officer of OMRAN Group during a signing ceremony held at the World Travel Market, one of the most influential annual global exhibitions on travel and tourism. The MoU provides an official platform for both parties to cooperate on initiatives aimed at attracting more international visitors while positioning Ras Al Khaimah and Musandam as leading global tourism destinations in the Middle East. The agreement will see leaders of both organisations work together to create opportunities for travellers to visit both destinations, Ras Al Khaimah and Musandam, in a single trip. The partnership between the destinations is a natural fit, with just a 90-minute drive between them and a shared mountain range, the majestic Hajar mountains, among a wealth of other shared natural landscapes. Furthermore, their intertwined cultural heritage and historical connections only serve to enrich and strengthen this unique collaboration. To this end, the MoU sets forth a framework for greater collaboration and dialogue on marketing initiatives to promote cross-destination tourism. This includes facilitating ease of access in transportation between Musandam and Ras Al Khaimah, developing favourable visa arrangements for international travellers to visit both destinations and initiating tourism packages, adventure offerings and partnership opportunities. Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism …

Ras Al Khaimah was awarded Silver Certification under EarthCheck’s Sustainable Destinations program – the world’s leading scientific benchmarking and certification program for tourism destinations. The emirate is the first destination in the Middle East to earn this level of recognition for sustainability. The certification process is underpinned by EarthCheck’s in-depth scientific criteria and also involves meticulous monitoring, benchmarking, and auditing across 10 sustainability indicators – from energy and water consumption to waste management, carbon footprint analysis and community engagement. Ras Al Khaimah’s sustainability certification is all the more significant considering the challenges posed by the region’s climate, calling for a more robust approach to managing energy and water consumption than most in order to meet EarthCheck’s stringent requirements. The Silver Certification comes just weeks out from the United Nations’ climate change conference COP28, being held in the UAE in late November. The conference agenda this year will focus on achieving the global emissions reduction target of 43% by 2030. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) Chief Executive Officer, Raki Phillips, said that achieving EarthCheck’s Silver Certification reinforced Ras Al Khaimah’s ambition to become the UAE’s and the region’s sustainable tourism leader by 2025. “This landmark achievement amplifies our commitment to sustainable, balanced, and purpose-driven tourism industry growth,” Phillips said. “My gratitude goes out to our tourism community for their relentless dedication to achieving EarthCheck’s Silver Certification, which not only substantiates Ras Al Khaimah’s commitment to sustainable tourism but also aligns with our ambitious goal of welcoming over three million visitors by 2030.” EarthCheck founder and Chief Executive Officer, Stewart Moore, said Ras Al Khaimah’s Silver status would bolster and enhance its tourism industry and its business operators locally. “Congratulations …

In H1 2023, Ras Al Khaimah saw a 300% increase in revenue from weddings which is expected to continue to grow into H2 with the launch of the programme in September. Ras Al Khaimah focused on the fast-growing MICE market in H1 as part of its diversification strategy. Indicating a successful push to attract international markets for incentive groups with longer stays versus local corporate groups that tend to only stay for a couple of nights, the destination saw a 26% increase in MICE rooms nights compared to the same period in 2022. It also hosted several major events between January and June 2023, including the RAK Half Marathon, Arab Aviation Summit, DP World Tour and Exotic Wedding Planning Conference (EWPC). Further establishing the Emirate as a unique and attractive wedding destination, the Authority chose EWPC as its platform to introduce an all-new Wedding Certification Programme that will enable seamless, quick, and easy wedding planning in Ras Al Khaimah. Those certified through the new Wedding Certification Programme will benefit from added ease and flexibility in obtaining necessary licenses, organising events, and gaining valuable business support from certified hotels via an e-portal. Planners will also gain a deeper understanding of the UAE’s civil marriage process, receive fast-tracked permits, and have access to a network of resources to help them confidently navigate through local regulations, including a curated portfolio of unique venues. Never before has a tourism destination introduced such ease and flexibility for wedding planners and couples. In parallel, the Authority also announced a series of comprehensive incentive packages for couples, wedding planners, and certified venues.

Colliers in their latest research paper shared about Ras Al Khaimah 2023 and beyond, where the emirate is on its way to expanding opportunities and game changers. In the report it is revealed that the 2030 vision of Ras Al Khaimah’s Tourism Development Authority’s (RAKTDA) is to attract over 3 million visitors and increase the overall attractiveness of the emirate, making tourism one of the most important sectors and focus for Ras Al Khaimah’s (RAK) GDP growth. This paper looks at the emirate’s growing hospitality market, its resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and the announcement of the Wynn Al Marjan Island Resort. In order to achieve the emirate’s target of attracting over 3 million visitors by 2030, a number of strategies have been implemented including financial stimulators, multimillion investments in Jebel Jais projects and the introduction of the region’s first integrated resort – Wynn Al Marjan Island. Looking ahead, RAK has already announced approximately 5,000 keys to open in the next 5 years, in addition to the 1,200 keys that will be offered by the Wynn resort following its opening in 2026. The introduction of the Wynn Al Marjan Island is expected to bring multiple benefits including job creation, increased visitation and global image enhancement. The region’s first integrated resort may act as a gateway to further develop the emirate’s alternative tourist segment, inviting more investment in eco-concepts with themes of sustainability and conservation. During the COVID-19 period, RAK was able to shift its focus to domestic tourism, thus minimising the impact of the pandemic on hospitality performance. In 2022, with the return of inbound tourism and growing competition from other destinations, occupancy was impacted and post-COVID-19 performance has yet …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and the FTI GROUP  struck a new agreement that paves the way for the launch of twice-weekly flights from Munich to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport in the fourth quarter of this year. The agreement, which was signed by Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and Ralph Schiller, CEO of the FTI GROUP ranked among the headline announcements on day one of the Arab Aviation Summit, which is currently being staged at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. It will significantly expand air connectivity between Ras Al Khaimah and Germany, one of the emirate’s top five visitor source markets for many years. Germany ranks among the global tourism industry’s most important outbound source markets and is projected to account for almost 118 million travellers annually by 2024, according to a recent report published by GlobalData. “This agreement with the FTI GROUP marks a major milestone in Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism development strategy, as we look to drive inbound traffic from Germany, which counts among our fastest-growing visitor source markets,” commented Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. “In 2022, we’ve experienced 81% growth in German visitors to Ras Al Khaimah compared to the previous year, and the addition of twice-weekly direct flights from Munich, one of the country’s most important aviation hubs, should see this number grow substantially. In fact, our robust relationships with all leading trade partners in Germany will all play a key role in reaching our target of 3 million visitors annually by 2030, while boosting tourism’s GDP contribution from 5% today to almost a third …

Starting from 1 November 2023, Qatar Airways will operate daily flights to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, signifying a major boost to Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority’s (RAKTDA) strategy to enhance global connectivity to the Emirate. Announced as the industry prepares to come together at the Arab Aviation Summit (AAS), taking place at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre, the move will strengthen direct international travel to Ras Al Khaimah. The daily flights will offer greater choice, flexibility and opportunities for travellers looking to explore the nature Emirate, leveraging Qatar Airways’ expansive global network of over 150 destinations spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Asia Pacific, North America, and South America. His Excellency Engr. Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of The Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah & Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, said: “Ras Al Khaimah is continuing to establish itself as a major aviation hub, driven by the success of an inspiring tourism strategy that is growing from strength to strength. Our latest partnership with Qatar Airways is primed to deliver significant progress against this roadmap, while strengthening our operational footprint. We are excited to explore a long and fruitful relationship together.”   “Our partnership with Qatar Airways and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is an important step in driving Ras Al Khaimah’s continued growth as a destination of the future,” commented Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. “Unlocking joint capabilities with one of the world’s leading airlines will raise the overall competitiveness of our tourism ecosystem and meet the growing demand for travel to the Emirate. We look forward to working together to drive …

Insightful discussions and debates on sustainability, the economic outlook, and key trends shaping the future of aviation will be in the spotlight as the milestone 10th edition of the Arab Aviation Summit (AAS) gets underway from March 14-16 at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Organised under the theme ‘Impactful sustainability in modern-day travel and tourism’, the three-day summit hosting a distinguished gathering of thought-leaders, innovators, and industry experts, will explore decarbonising pathways in aviation and discuss the challenges and opportunities in the industry with the continued rise of disruptive technologies. Leading regional and global players in the aviation and travel industry will headline inspiring keynote addresses and participate in interactive panel discussions that offer a deep dive into best practices, sustainable business models, regional trends in aviation and tourism, and more. Prominent speakers at the event include H.H. Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum, first lieutenant pilot of the Dubai Police Airwing; H.E Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA); H.E. Ilin Dimitrov, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Bulgaria, Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia and Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO). In a discussion with other industry experts, Ted O’Byrne Chief Executive at AviLease, and Mikail Houari, President, Africa and Middle East at Airbus, will explore the fundamentals of airline economics under the pillar of sustainability. Val Miftakhov Founder & CEO at ZeroAvia – a company developing the world’s first practical zero emission aviation powertrain, will discuss pathways to net zero in the aviation, travel and tourism industry while Andreas Slettvoll, CEO CHOOOSE, will be part of a discussion …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) introduces its all-new Wedding Certification Programme to enable seamless, quick, and easy wedding planning in the Emirate. Bolstering Ras Al Khaimah’s position as a world-class wedding destination, the new initiative was announced at the 11th edition of the Exotic Wedding Planning Conference (EWPC), currently taking place at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre with leading wedding and event planners from around the world in attendance. As part of the programme, both domestic and internationally based wedding planners will have access to an e-learning platform that will be launched this spring as a one-stop-shop to seamlessly facilitate all aspects of a civil ceremony. Those certified through the programme will benefit from added ease and flexibility in obtaining necessary licenses, organising events, and gaining valuable business support from certified hotels via the portal. Planners will also gain a deeper understanding of the UAE’s civil marriage process, receive fast-tracked permits, and have access to a network of resources to help them confidently navigate through local regulations. With the aim of enhancing awareness of the Emirate’s array of distinctive locations, certified wedding planners will also gain expert knowledge on a curated portfolio of unique venues that provide breath-taking backdrops for bespoke, picturesque celebrations – including Al Jazeera Al Hamra, Jais Viewing Deck Park, Dhayah Fort, Sonara Camp Al Wadi, Date Farm, and Suwaidi Pearls Farm. In parallel, a series of comprehensive incentive packages will be available for couples, wedding planners, and certified venues. These will include complimentary services, discounted rates, and airport support for charter flights, while any specialised permits will be waived off to further ease procedures. The initiatives follow the UAE’s recent introduction of …

The landmark 10th edition of the Arab Aviation Summit will be hosted in collaboration with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority from March 14 – 16 at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre under the theme ‘Impactful sustainability in modern-day travel and tourism’ in the presence of leading regional and global players in the aviation and travel industry from across the public and private sectors. The growing demand for decarbonising aviation and travel will be in focus at the region’s leading aviation industry event that brings together more than 600 aviation experts and hundreds of attendees across multiple sectors at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre. Featuring a line-up of interactive panel discussions and inspiring keynote addresses in addition to various workshops and exhibitions which will take place during the three days summit enabling industry experts to share expertise and knowledge and explore the trends, insights and opportunities driving the continuous growth and development of the Arab aviation and tourism industry. Hosted in collaboration with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), the summit will analyse the importance of impactful sustainability and disruptive technologies in a rapidly changing travel market. Stalwarts in the industry including Original Equipment Manufacturers, Destination Management Companies, tourism boards and start-ups, will include best practices and offer valuable perspectives on sustainable business models. Strategic sector discussions will also highlight curated and innovative products, services and initiatives that are currently changing the way people travel. The 10th Arab Aviation Summit will cement its status as the ‘voice of the industry’ with a series of workshops and partner networking events that open doors for discussions on opportunities and challenges in the sector. Endorsed by Arab governments, …