RAK visitor numbers reach highest level yet in third quarter

Revenue from tourism recorded by hotels in the emirate increased by 22 per cent year-on-year during the quarter to US$55.7 million.

Above, a part of the Hajar Mountains from the historic Dhaya Fort north of Ras Al Khaimah. Silvia Razgova / The National

Ras Al Khaimah’s Tourism Development Authority has announced a 14 per cent increase in visitor numbers during the third quarter of 2015 to almost 200,000 visitors – the highest number ever recorded in the emirate.

The Authority said revenue from tourism recorded by hotels in the Emirate increased by 22 per cent year-on-year during the quarter to $55.7 million, or Dh204.5m ($45.7m a year ealier).

Occupancy rates also increased to 58 per cent compared to 51 per cent a year earlier, while revenues per available room jumped by 36 per cent to $78.93. The amount of money generated from food and beverage revenue also grew by 10 per cent to $18.5m.

The authority said that local tourists still make up the bulk of visitors, with 49 per cent of visitors coming from other parts of the UAE thus far in 2015. Germany remains the main source of international visitors – providing 8.9 per cent of the total. Visitors from the UK overtook those from Russia, at 5.2 and 4.6 per cent respectively, while visitors from India made up the top five nationalities, providing 4.3 per cent of total vistors.

“These figures are extremely encouraging as we work towards our target of 1 million visitors by the end of 2018,” Haitham Mattar, the chief executive of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said in a news release.

“As the destination gains global appeal, we plan to steadily diversify our source markets through strategic global partnerships with leading industry stakeholders, repositioning the emirate on the world tourism stage,” he added.

Officials at the tourism authority were not available to answer questions regarding the figures yesterday.

The accountancy firm EY’s latest Hotel Benchmark Survey showed that Ras Al Khaimah recorded a 55 per cent year-on-year increase in average room yields in September, reaching $89. This was partly thanks to a 4.7 per cent climb in occupancy rates to 63 per cent.

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