WTTC President & CEO Meets His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi During Ras Al Khaimah Visit
During an official visit to Ras Al Khaimah, the President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Julia Simpson, engaged in a keynote speech at the IHG IMEA General Managers Conference alongside His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi.
Addressing delegates, Simpson highlighted Ras Al Khaimah’s remarkable growth as one of the fastest-growing destinations globally. She pointed out that the Emirate achieved a record-breaking year in 2023, witnessing a 24% year-on-year rise in international visitors, reaching an impressive 1.2 million.
Simpson attributed this success to the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Saud and the diligent efforts of Raki Phillips and his team at the Tourism Development Authority. She closed her speech by congratulating His Highness and the Tourism Development Board for their commitment to prioritizing Travel & Tourism and their focus on sustainability and digitalization.
In 2023, Ras Al Khaimah achieved Silver Certification under EarthCheck’s Sustainable Destinations program – a first in the Middle East.
The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) reported its best year for tourism ever, welcoming a record 1.22 million overnight arrivals to the nature Emirate in 2023, marking an 8 per cent increase from 2022 numbers. This surge was bolstered by a significant 24% year-on-year increase in international visitors.
This robust performance underscores RAKTDA’s strategic growth plans, which include investment in tourism infrastructure, targeted initiatives to attract more visitors to the emirate, and the development of a sustainable ecosystem. Ras Al Khaimah continues to reinforce its position as a destination of the future.
Key achievements in 2023 include a 24 per cent increase in international visitors, supported by over 2,200 international activities across 30 countries. Additionally, Ras Al Khaimah solidified its status as a business and social events hub, experiencing a 23% growth in MICE revenue and a 103% increase in revenue from weddings.
Furthermore, Ras Al Khaimah was featured in prominent media outlets such as CNN Travel, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure India, and Forbes, further enhancing its global recognition.
The Emirate also witnessed boosted international air connectivity with the introduction of direct flights from Qatar Airways, Indian carrier IndiGo, Smart Wings, Centrum Air, and SmartLynx. Collaborations with Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) for cross-destination tourism promotion and marketing initiatives further contributed to the increase in visitor arrivals.
With the debut of Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort and the reopening of Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah after extensive refurbishments, the Emirate’s hospitality sector experienced significant growth. Additionally, Ras Al Khaimah hosted multiple headline-grabbing events, including the 2023 WMF Minifootball World Cup and the DP World Tour.
Despite global challenges impacting the industry, RAKTDA CEO Mr Raki Phillips expressed optimism, stating that 2023 set the groundwork for sustainable growth and development in Ras Al Khaimah. He emphasized the Emirate’s agility and resilience as a tourism community, pledging to continue delivering a destination offering that resonates with visitors and residents alike. Ras Al Khaimah remains firmly on the path to continued success in 2024 and beyond.
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