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By Shahd Alhamdan
DEAD SEA — Ras Al-Khaimah is targeting three million passengers to visit the emirate by 2025 in its ongoing , were some of the strategies for increasing the growth of aviation and tourism sector in Ras Al- Khaimah, according to CEO of Ras Al-Khaimah Tourism and Development Authority (RAK TDA) Haitham Mattar.
During one of the interactive panels of the Arab Aviation Summit 2016 held on Dec.5, he mentioned that one of their strategies is to attract one million visitors to Ras Al-Khaimah by 2018.
During the panel titled ‹Putting Arab Aviation and Tourism Policies Under Review – Expanding Economic Opportunity›, Matter stressed on the importance of having plans and strategy for destination that considered being a touristic hub. He described destination without a strategy like a strategy for disaster.
Having different four and five stars hotels would fit different varieties of tourists, having the beaches and other attractions, as well as the near location from Sharja airport and Dubai airport, would be some of the positive factors for developing the tourism sector in Ras Al-Khaimah.
Mattar said «the challenge that we are facing is the growth of tourism versus the capacity. The reason of our growth is the airports. Now we are talking to several airlines to land directly in areas Al-Khaimah.»
During the panel it was discussed that the aviation and tourism sector is still in its infancy and facing many obstacles that affect the sector negatively including, high taxes and fees.
President and Managing Director EMEA and South Asia of Travelport Rabih Saab said «actually I believe that high taxation and fees that are being imposed by big countries are becoming a block for the continues growth of the aviation industry. Do not forget that the aviation industry is a growth industry. It is growing worldwide approximately by 60 percent. The growth of the aviation industry in the Arab world is around 11 percent this year.
The governments need to understand that aviation and passengers should not be considered as cash caws were they impose the higher taxes and fees for the passengers or the flights. Government should believe and understand that aviation is a strong economic pillar of the growth of the GDPs of the countries. And we have seen that very evident were countries do take aviation as a strong economic pillar of the economies and they benefit.»
He mentioned Dubai and Singapore as two examples of countries focused on having massive special airports and expanded their economic opportunities.
The Arab Tourism Organization of the Arab League and the Arab Aviation Summit signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the event, which marks a firm commitment to future cooperation.
President of Arab Tourism Organization of the Arab League Bandar Fahad Al Fehaid, commented that there is no tourism without aviation, and no aviation without tourism. Speaking of the Organization’s vision to support the growth of these vital industries in the coming years.Hailed as the ‘voice of the industry’, the Arab Aviation Summit 2016 is an industry initiative organized annually.
Key findings and outcomes from the summit are compiled and developed into a white paper report, which is later presented to regulators and decision makers from both public and private sectors.
© The Saudi Gazette 2016
