Ras Al Khaimah expands focus to Saudi Arabia
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Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA) announced its strategic focus on Saudi Arabia with a strong participation at the Riyadh Travel Fair.
With increasing visitor numbers from its primary source markets of UAE, Germany and Russia, the emirate is now looking to grow its reputation within the GCC, and specifically Saudi Arabia.
Visitors from KSA represent a small but high value and fast growing proportion of Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism sector. In 2012, Ras Al Khaimah welcomed 3,542 visitors from KSA, representing just 0.32% of the emirate’s total visitor number but a 234% increase in the number of KSA visitors from the year 2011. Saudi visitors to Ras Al Khaimah also have a significantly higher average hotel spend per guest than other source markets: spending, on average, US$110 per room in 2012, compared to US$98 per UAE guest, US$78 per German guest and US$68 per Russian guest.
Victor Louis, chief executive officer of Ras Al Khaimah TDA said: “Over the past two years we’ve spotted a growing trend of KSA holiday makers choosing Ras Al Khaimah. We see important potential for development here and, anticipate that Saudi Arabia will play an increasingly important role in our growth strategy for the emirate.”