Ras Al Khaimah has been named the ‘Gulf Tourism Capital’ by the Ministers of Tourism of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states during a recent meeting in Muscat, Oman, where they discussed measures aimed at coordinating tourism efforts in GCC states.
The meeting was attended by a UAE delegation led by Mohammed Khamis Al Muhairi, Advisor to the Minister of Economy for Tourism Affairs, on behalf of Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, said a report in WAM. Al Mansouri stated that Ras Al Khaimah’s selection as the capital of Gulf tourism highlights the UAE’s leading stature as a popular tourism destination, noting that the previous years have witnessed ongoing growth in the number of tourists visiting the country from around the world, and praising the decision of GCC tourism ministers and officials.
Presenting the key tourism achievements, Al Muhairi said that in 2018, the number of hotel guests visiting the UAE reached 25.6 million, an increase of 3.8 per cent compared to 2017. He also said that the report of the World Tourism and Travel Council in 2019 revealed that the tourism sector made up 11.1 per cent of the UAE’s GDP in 2018, amounting to Dh 164.7 billion ($44.8 billion). This contribution is expected to rise by 3 per cent in 2019, and tourism provided 9.6 per cent of total jobs in 2018, corresponding to around 611,500 positions.
Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority said, “It is a great honor for the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah to be recognized and named as the “Gulf Tourism Capital” by the tourism ministers and senior officials of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Under the wise leadership of Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, supreme council member and ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, the Emirate has a promising future and we are proud to play a part towards fulfilling his vision.”
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority launched its new Destination Strategy 2019-2021, which will build on the successes of the previous strategy. The new Destination Strategy 2019-2021 is set to implement best practices as per international standards to fuel a sustainable tourism-driven economic growth in Ras Al Khaimah. The strategic three-year program will focus on diversifying the emirate’s tourism offering to attract a wider segment of tourists and higher yield visitors looking for authentic experiences, accelerating foreign and local investments within the tourism sector, nurturing home-grown small and medium enterprises to create further employment and business opportunities for RAK nationals, and prioritizing sustainable nature-based adventure and authentic cultural experiences.
One of Ras Al Khaimah’s key growth milestones in 2018 was the launch of Jebel Jais Flight- the world’s longest zipline on Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE. This put Ras Al Khaimah on the global map as it broke the world record and strengthened the emirate’s credentials as the fastest growing adventure tourism destination in the region. Another key factor in the growing popularity of the emirate was a calendar of world-class events, and the increase in international partnerships with travel trade through the opening of overseas offices and a series of trade roadshows throughout the year. The new Destination Strategy aims to build on this success and transform Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism industry into a sustainable driver of the economy.
Over the next three years Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority will continue to create compelling offerings that combine the Emirate’ key promises: pristine beaches; natural beauty; cultural heritage; excellence in hospitality and unrivalled experiences in order to attract close to 1.5 million visitors by 2021, and 3 million visitors by 2025.
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