Ras Al Khaimah, one of many fastest-growing vacationer locations within the area, can be targeted on sustainable improvement according to the UAE’s dedication in the direction of local weather change and Internet Zero because the nation hosts the COP28 international UN local weather change convention later this yr.

Talking about local weather change and Internet Zero in relation to tourism promotion on the sidelines of the Arabian Journey Market 2023 in Dubai, Al Arabiya English spoke to Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Improvement Authority (RAKTDA), on Tuesday.

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“We made a dedication a yr in the past as a way to be the primary licensed sustainable vacation spot within the area. And what meaning is we partnered with an organization referred to as the EarthCheck that was globally acknowledged to assist us obtain particular objectives aligned with the Sustainable Improvement Targets (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations,” stated Phillips.

Within the case of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Improvement Authority, they’ve 30 corporations and entities throughout the emirate which have all signed up a pledge so as to have the ability to obtain this. The CEO revealed that “we’re going via our certification course of as we converse, protecting all three parts that make up sustainability — whether or not it’s cultural sustainability, financial sustainability, or environmental sustainability.”

“And the RAKTDA is overseeing this course of as a way to make sure that by COP 28 , we’ve got every little thing aligned, and that we’re a licensed vacation spot. Our focus is now very a lot aligned with that.”

Primary journey tendencies, uptick in figures

Phillips seemed again on the classes that the group skilled dring COVID-19. “So I feel there’s a few issues that the pandemic has taught us. One is, individuals can work and trip on the similar outing of wherever on this planet. So we noticed a ‘digital nomad’ migration the place individuals had been on the lookout for a spot to work, dwell, and play, whether or not it’s for an prolonged interval or a short while. Folks have realized that so long as they’ve their laptops, they’ve their telephones, they’ve good Wi Fi, they will join and Ras Al Khaimah was a wonderful vacation spot for that all through the previous couple of years, and it continues to develop.”

From pristine seashores to rugged mountains and luxurious resorts to wilderness camps, the Ras Al Khaimah guarantees rewarding experiences and luxurious for all travellers, which led to the emirate being included in Time journal’s World’s Best Locations of 2022 and CNN Journey’s finest locations to go to in 2023.

Phillips stated: “We have now a wide range of choices for our vacationers from everywhere in the world – which a really diversified consumer base. By way of the the resort choices, we’ve got uber luxurious resorts just like the Ritz-Carlton, the Waldorf Astoria, the InterContinental, to our midscale manufacturers, just like the Radisson, Hampton by Hilton, and even to our glamping choices, or the Longbeach Campground or Banan Seashore tenting resort.”

Phillips additionally spoke concerning the new resorts which might be approaching board. “We have now the Anantara and Mina Al Arab, opening later this yr in addition to the Sofitel. And subsequent yr, we’ve got the Westin as properly opening. So there are lots of nice resort choices. So I feel when individuals wish to escape and be one with nature, Ras Al Khaimah is the primary that involves their minds.”

For Ras Al Khaimah, the CIS market continues to be a giant market. “Germany, UK, India, Kazakhstan — our markets have been in a position to drive progress. However we’ve additionally been very targeted on new markets, just like the GCC. Poland and the Czech Republic are markets which have grown considerably over the previous couple of years. And so for us. that’s our precedence.”

A couple of months in the past, the emirate had introduced that Qatar Airways was flying direct to RAK airport, which was large information. “And now we’re targeted with them on the place the feeder markets are coming in order that we will put the advertising efforts in the direction of that.”

When speaking concerning the rising quantity digital nomads, RAKTDA CEO credit the UAE’s visa coverage which he stated has additionally helped undoubtedly. “I feel the UAE is seen as a progressive nation that could be very enterprise pleasant, that’s secure, and really targeted on investor returns. I do not suppose you would discover a higher vacation spot globally that has eased up the visa restrictions, permitting visa upon arrival and so forth.”

He cited the instance nearer to residence of the Ras Al Khaimah Financial Zone (RAKEZ) “the place you’ll be able to arrange an organization in a really fast time period. RAKEZ has completed” phenomenally properly and it is attracted lots of people.”

Speaking about different large markets, Phillips stated: “India is a giant focus of ours since it’s a massive market and that quantity is constantly rising, and proximity could be very shut. Indian weddings are large affairs. We have now seen a giant curiosity, other than the massive potential of the MICE sector. You do discover numerous Indians that need to trip throughout summer season, or what they love to do is that they like to mix it with different locations. In order that they may very well be flying to RAK after which connecting to different locations. And we have additionally, , been targeted on air raise coming in from India and labored with a number of airways to have the ability to obtain that.”

“While you even simply consider the variety of Indians who maintain passports, it is a very small quantity, however we all know that that quantity is constantly rising. So for us, India is a key focus.”

Profitable quick stays marketing campaign

Domestically, Ras Al Khaimah has for some years been a favourite desination. “The home market is a key for us,” stated Phillips. “While you consider a spot within the Emirates so that you can escape to your staycation — or as we prefer to name it ‘shortcation’ — due to the quick distance from the opposite emirates to us, there’s no different place that provides what RAK can supply, with Jebel Jais being the very best mountain within the UAE; and the number of resort choices within the emirate that can proceed to develop.”

For these hooked to mountaineering up Jebel Jais, he stated “we have had super enhancements on our mountaineering trails, and we’ve got a brand new highway that cuts via the mountain, which has diminished the drive time up the mountain considerably.”

“Preserving nature in addition to offering facilities has been our aim as we develop and develop. Even our mountaineering trails are completely unimaginable and completed in a method the place they’re actually built-in with nature.”

And what have been the opposite learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic and slowdown? The CEO of RAKTDA stated what they realized was, if you happen to make calculated good choices, you’ll be able to see a a lot sooner restoration and a extra optimistic impression. “So when the pandemic hit, we had a stimulus bundle that we launched for all of our non-government owned companies in tourism and hospitality, that helped actually drive up enterprise. We pivoted and targeted on the home market, the place pre-pandemic home market was lower than 40 p.c of our total enterprise. Through the pandemic, we doubled the variety of guests and continues nonetheless as we speak to be one in every of our large focuses.”

Aiming for five mln guests by 2030

Final yr, Ras Al Khaimah as a vacation spot attracted 1.1 3 million vacationers, which was greater than pre-pandemic ranges. “So we had been one of many quickest recovering locations globally. However after we have a look at simply our quarter one outcomes this yr, we’re 13 p.c forward of final yr. So we’re seeing, , the yr beginning off very well, and we’ve got numerous potential progress that’s occurring,” stated Phillips.

“So I am fairly optimistic that we’re on the monitor to have the ability to get to 1.2 million vacationers by the top of the yr. And by the top of the last decade, , we’re now learning what that ultimate quantity can be. However I feel by the top of the last decade, we might simply be over 5 million vacationers.”

By way of funding into the tourism sector, Phillips stated that RAKTDA was “undoubtedly targeted on growing extra nature-driven sights on Jebel Jais. We are also targeted on the conservation and restoration of our cultural websites. We have now 4 websites which might be on the tentative UNESCO heritage record. After which clearly the event of resorts and sights on Al Marjan Island.”

Phillips stated the opposite factor that “we’re targeted on was accessible journey. We all know that could be a $8 billion a yr enterprise globally. To make the vacation spot extra accessible to individuals with particular wants — , being extra inclusive.”

Learn extra:

Sustainable Aviation Gas key to web zero future for international aviation business

Local weather change on the high of the agenda at ATM 2023 dialogue

Abu Dhabi targets 24 mln guests by 2023, following vacationer surge final yr

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