Ras Al Khaimah is set to celebrate Eid-al-Adha with an array of special offers as the emirate announces a record number of visitors during August, spurred on by the GCC’s ‘weekend get-away’ market.

In August, Ras Al Khaimah had attracted more than 95,000 visitors, up 28 per cent compared to last year, said top tourism officials.

While domestic UAE tourism accounted for almost 52 per cent of visitors during this time, the emirate also saw a marked increase in intra-regional travel from GCC and Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Qatar and Lebanon, they added.

Between January and August 2013, the emirate has attracted 723,852 visitors with UAE as the strongest source market with 232,480 visitors presenting 32.12 per cent of the total number of visitors followed by various countries including Germany, Ukraine, Russia, Italy and Czech Republic.

Khalid Motik, the director of RAK Tourism Development Authority, said Ras Al Khaimah was going from strength to strength as a tourism destination.

"The combination of accessibility, just 45 minutes from Dubai airport, with luxurious seclusion, world class hotel resorts and diverse natural landscapes perfect for outdoor activities, makes it the ideal location for UAE and GCC residents looking to make the most of the Eid holidays," he noted.

“Another contributing factor drawing invisitors has been the opening of the UAE’s first Waldorf Astoria RAK, which is the luxury brand of Hilton Worldwide, marking an exciting addition to the emirate’s premium luxury hotels and resorts,” Motik added.

During the upcoming Eid holidays, the emirate’s hotels will be adding to their appeal with an array of activities, buffets and special offers.

The highlights include spa packages at the luxury resort Banyan Tree Al Wadi and Banyan Tree Ras Al Khaimah Beach, complementary upgrades for HHonors members at the newly-opened Waldorf Astoria RAK and an array of deals on adventure activities, including kids fly free with Seawings, luxury cruises on Prince of Sea, over-night cruises and introductory sailing lessons on Catamaran Freedom, and overnight stay packages with hotel partners for trips to Ice Land Water Park.

Also the package includes special Eid rates on rooms and F&B at Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa, Bin Majid Beach Hotel and Bin Majid Beach Resort, Al Hamra Village and Golden Tulip Khatt Springs.-TradeArabia News Service