Emirate targets 820,000 visitors next year

Ras Al Khaimah’s Tourism Development Authority (RAK TDA) said it was targeting an increase in its visitor numbers to 820,000 in 2016, and 900,000 in 2017, a jump from the 750,000 visitor target for 2015.

The figures are in line with the Authority’s vision to attract one million visitors by 2018, according to Haitham Mattar, chief executive officer of RAK TDA.

In the first nine to ten months of this year, around 650,000 guests checked into RAK accommodations, an eight per cent increase over the same period last year. In the third quarter of this year alone, the emirate saw 200,000 visitors — up 14 per cent on the same quarter in 2014.

Year-to-date occupancy rates were also up 7.5 per cent, as average room rates rose 2.7 per cent, and revenues per available room grew 9.7 per cent on the same period last year.

“The plan for us to reach one million visitors by 2018 is laid out through a strategic road map, which will predominantly have us focus on diversification of accommodation but also the tourism offering itself — both business and leisure travel,” Mattar told Gulf News. Around 3,600 new hotel rooms are expected to enter the market between now and 2019, with the rooms being a mix of four- and five-star hotels, along with serviced apartments. The new supply “will not be a shock to the system,” though, Mattar said, as the Authority expects demand to continue to grow over the next years.