Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA) will lead a delegation of the emirate’s premium tourism partners to a major travel fair in Riyadh, expanding its focus on Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh Travel Fair is opening tomorrow (April 23) at Four Seasons Hotel and will run until April 26.

The delegation, led by Ras Al Khaimah TDA, will include representatives from Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts, Banyan Tree Al Wadi & Banyan Tree Ras Al Khaimah Beach and RAK Airport.

With ever increasing visitor numbers from its primary source markets of UAE, Germany and Russia, RAK is now looking to grow its reputation as a top regional holiday destination within the GCC, and specifically Saudi Arabia.

Visitors from Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia, representing just 0.32 per cent of the emirate’s total visitor number but a 234 per cent increase in the number of Saudi Arabia 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, $110 per room in 2012, compared to $98 per UAE guest, $78 per German guest and $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 Saudi Arabia holiday makers choosing Ras Al Khaimah, making Saudi Arabia one of our fastest growing markets as well as one of the highest spending per hotel guest. We see important potential for development here and, looking forwards, anticipate that Saudi Arabia will play an increasingly important role in our growth strategy for the emirate.”

“The raft of new luxury hotel openings in Ras Al Khaimah due this year, including the UAE’s first Waldorf Astoria, will be a huge draw for the discerning Saudi tourist by offer affordable luxury experiences and high value-for-money holidays,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service