Breaking Travel News

Haitham Mattar, chief executive, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority

With the emirate rolling out a new advertising campaign, Breaking Travel News here chats with Haitham Mattar, chief executive of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.

Having been recognised as the Middle East’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination by the World Travel Awards earlier this year, he tells us about plans to expand the opportunities in the emirate in this sector.

Also vital to the growth of the emirate will be the MICE sector, with Ras Al Khaimah set to welcome global events from PATA and AITO, as well as the return of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in the spring next year.

Mattar said: “As part of a strategy we launched in 2016 we are seeking to boost the MICE sector and diversify our segments.

“Currently 95 per cent of our visitors from the leisure market, and we want to boost that five per cent from the business market to ten per cent over the next two-to-three years.”

Find out more above as we catch up at World Travel Market in London.