Ras Al Khaimah, the northern emirate of the
UAE, has a significant Persian Gulf coastline and its own tourism office, one
that’s working hard to promote the area’s many attractions for visitors.
At the end of April, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development
Authority (RAKTDA) representatives visited the Arabian Travel Market in nearby Dubai to show
off some of the agency’s important work in recent years.
RAKTDA is a government office that’s been working since 2011
to promote tourism in Ras Al Khaimah. The group hopes to promote Ras Al Khaimah
as a popular travel destination that offers luxury resorts and
amenities to visitors. To that end, RAKTDA maintains research and analysis
projects, participates in trade shows and works with travel professionals in
the area, offering workshops and training programs.
“Our ambition is to advance the development of a sustainable
and competitive tourism industry by working with industry and other
stakeholders to achieve our vision of reaching 1 million visitors by the end of
2018, and achieving our targets, revenue and job creation by 2019.” RAKTDA CEO Haitham Mattar told the Gulf News Journal on Tuesday.
Mattar talked about the recent rebranding effort by RKATDA
that shows off the region’s great range of tourist activities, natural
resources, an expansive history and authentic culture. The rebranding, he
said, drew on a lot of “deep market research” that will help to position the
area well in the years ahead.
“Our new brand
positioning emphasizes Ras Al Khaimah’s natural assets, luxurious indulgence,
range of activities for different types of travelers, history and culture and
authentic Arabian heritage offering.” Mattar said, claiming the rebranding “positions
Ras Al Khaimah as more than sun, sea and sand.”
With dozens of miles of beautiful beach areas and its tourism infrastructure, the Ras Al Khaimah area is also
directly accessible from Dubai international Airport – travelers can
reach some of the area’s hotels from Dubai in a 45-minute drive up the coast.
“Travelers who are
seeking to experience a connection with nature and authentic Arabic cultural
experiences will create memories in Ras Al Khaimah.” Mattar said.
Going over some of the agency’s work at recent shows and
events, Mattar also talked about a golf simulator exhibited at the Arabian
Travel Market RAKTDA booth that offered 93 championship courses.
“At ATM this year, we wanted an interactive
experience, which is why we brought the golf simulator to our stand.” Mattar
said. “For the first time in the UAE, residents and visitors were able to try the
Full Swing S4 simulator. …The golf simulator is a representation of the positioning
of Ras Al Khaimah as not only a spectacular golf venue, but also a major player
in the golf tourism market. The emirate offers excellent facilities at two
world-class golf courses: Al Hamra Golf Club and Tower Links Golf Club.”
