Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has achieved 15,000 room nights during the first 12 weeks of its ‘Shortcation’ campaign, which ran from June 7 to August 31 this year. Despite the regional effects of the pandemic, Ras Al Khaimah leads in RevPAR in the UAE and is second in the GCC, after Riyadh.
Guests staying for three or more nights at any of Ras Al Khaimah’s participating four and five star hotels enjoyed value-adds such as the Suwaidi Pearls farm, the iconic ‘Jais Adventure Peak’ with the Jebel Jais Flight, the world’s longest zipline; the Jais Sky Tour featuring seven ziplines and a 15m sky bridge; and the Jais Sky Maze, a suspended obstacle course of rope swings, wobbly bridges and swinging loops. All ‘Shortcation’ guests automatically entered a weekly raffle hosted by RAKTDA, to win a number of high-value prizes, including the grand prize of a brand-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2020 automobile, courtesy of Gargash Enterprises. Ras Al Khaimah became the first city in the world to be certified as safe by Bureau Veritas and the first emirate to receive the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp. RAKTDA partners with the National Crisis & Emergency Management Authority and Ras Al Khaimah Preventive Medicine Department provide free COVID-19 PCR testing for all hospitality staff in the Emirate. All 45 hotels in Ras Al Khaimah have received the Bureau Veritas certification. A travel survey of thousands of people across the UAE, conducted by dnata Travel, the country's longest-standing travel provider, has revealed that almost 100 per cent of domestic travellers want to experience more of the UAE throughout the next year. A total 91 per cent of respondents replied positively to considering more domestic travel in 2020/2021, whilst the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah proved most popular, with 55 per cent of respondents stating they would like to explore more of the emirate in the next year. Fujairah and Dubai followed respectively, making up the top three most popular emirates for domestic travel at this time. Emily Jenkins, Head of Retail and Product at dnata Travel, commented: "For dnata Travel, the UAE currently is, and always has been, the number one travel destination of choice for its residents. With a variety of incredible landscapes on our doorstep, UAE travellers can find themselves in the desert, the mountains, by the ocean, surrounded by impressive cityscapes, or on an island retreat. With some of the world's best hotels and resorts to choose from, we find locations across the UAE to suit the needs of every type of traveller. "As the temperature starts to cool here, and as the world continues to weather the effects of the global pandemic with many countries not yet open for travel, this has further incentivised local travellers to seek a change of scenery closer to home, from UAE hidden gems to its iconic hotels and attractions, with world-class, enhanced levels of health and safety. Our travel experts are on hand at this time across our multiple customer touchpoints including retail stores across the country for travel advice and inspiration. The recent travel survey also uncovered the most popular holiday types of choice for UAE travellers in 2020/2021 with 'beach breaks' leading the way, with 50 per cent of respondents claiming this would be the type of trip that would appeal to them most in the next year. This was followed closely by the need for an 'outdoor/adventure holiday' or an 'island escape', respectively. "With Ras Al Khaimah offering 64km of beautiful, pristine beaches, an abundance of cultural experiences, as well as incredible outdoor adventure activities at Jebel Jais, the highest mountain peak in the UAE, it's not surprising that this emirate is leading the way as a destination that domestic travellers want to see more of this year," Jenkins added. A restaurant located atop the Jais Adventure Peak, 1484 by Puro, named for its height of 1,484 metres above sea level has opened its doors this month as the UAE’s highest restaurant offering. Located next to the Jais Adventure Centre, offers guests magnificent views of the peaks and valleys of the Hajar mountains alongside a delectable menu. Alison Grinnell, CEO of RAK Hospitality Holding shared, “Jebel Jais is one of the most popular landmarks in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, offering visitors a host of bucket-list adventures that guarantee memorable experiences. With the opening of 1484 by Puro at the Jebel Jais Welcome Center, visitors can now enjoy an all-encompassing experience at the standalone destination that is the Jais Adventure Peak, home to thrilling adventure attractions such as the Jebel Jais Flight, Jais Sky Maze, and the Jais Sky Tour.”