Ras Al Khaimah tourism drive gets boost with new Qatar Airways flights

Photo: Jazirat al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah

Qatar Airways launched on Feb 2 flights between Doha and Ras Al Khaimah. The airline will initially operate four flights a week and is aiming for a daily service in the near future, it said in a statement.

Ras Al Khaimah International Airport CEO Mohammed Qazi said the new route allows Qatar Airways to serve the Northern Emirates catchment, an area of over 1 million people, for both inbound and outbound traffic. 

The airport is home to Air Arabia, the region's largest low cost carrier, which currently operates 10 routes.

TOURISM DRIVE

Ras Al Khaimah reported a 6 percent increase in visitor numbers in 2015, welcoming 740,383 tourists, according to the emirate's Tourism Development Authority. 

Tourism revenues jumped 12.4 percent, with hotels reporting a 12.1 percent rise in room revenues, the highest increase in five years. Occupancy was up 9.7 percent to reach 64.7 percent. 

F&B revenues registered a 14.4 percent increase. 

Ras Al Khaimah is aiming to attract 1 million visitors a year by 2018 and is broadening its offering through developing retail, dining, cruise, entertainment, and MICE facilities, according to Tourism Development Authority CEO Haitham Mattar.