Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) announce has a strategic partnership with SCAT Airlines that will see the emirate welcome commercial flights from eight cities in Kazakhstan starting this March. The move strengthens Ras Al Khaimah’s recovery strategy, following its initial focus on domestic tourism before opening up to international markets as travel corridors are established.
Kazakhstan is within the top five source markets for inbound tourism to the emirate over the past few years, demonstrating strong growth in visitor traffic prior to the global travel restrictions. Through the new route, SCAT Airline passengers will experience a one-of-kind getaway to Ras Al Khaimah, a safe destination as certified by both Bureau Veritas, the international leader in testing, inspection and certification and the WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council) Safe Travels Stamp. They will also receive complimentary PCR testing – a service that Ras Al Khaimah is extending to all international visitors. Following a period of unprecedented disruption to the travel and tourism sector, Ras Al Khaimah has emerged stronger than ever as a destination with world-class safety protocols in place and a robust development plan for sustainable tourism growth. Its efforts till date have seen the emirate lead in ADR (average daily rate) in the UAE and RevPAR (revenue per available room) in the UAE and GCC for 2020.
With green shoots of recovery emerging, it is building on this momentum with strategic partnerships to drive its growth as one of the most dynamic tourist destinations. The partnership with SCAT Airlines supports the recovery of international tourism, driving footfall from major cities in Kazakhstan to the emirate.