Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), in partnership with RAK Ports, has appointed Zaiton Consultancy to support the emirate grow its cruise tourism segment.
An expert in developing and promoting cruise services, Dubai-headquartered Zaiton Consultancy will be responsible for developing and marketing Ras Al Khaimah’s burgeoning cruise sector.
The announcement was made at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami at the end of April where Zaiton Consultancy participated as RAKTDA’s representative.
One of the fastest growing sectors in tourism, cruising saw an annual passenger growth rate of 5.4 per cent from 2009 to 2019, with services now close to pre-pandemic levels.
In recognition of the importance of cruise tourism, RAKTDA and RAK Ports have worked together on several projects to further develop the emirate’s offering.
This includes the transformation of its old ferry terminal into a modern and efficient boutique cruise passenger terminal and the development of marine transport infrastructure around it.
The authority has also invested in designing bespoke visitor itineraries for arrivals to attract a larger segment of leisure cruise passengers and welcome new audiences from across the world to the destination.
RAKTDA’s strategy to attract three million visitors a year by 2030 includes ensuring destination accessibility via all means of transport, including luxury cruise ships.
Cruise passengers will be welcomed to the emirate via the dedicated terminal, which is able to accommodate multiple cruise ships of up to 214 metres in length docking simultaneously. To ensure a continuation of the service levels luxury cruise passengers expect, the terminal features cutting-edge security measures such as facial recognition CCTV, luggage and personal baggage X-ray machines, delivering a seamless, hassle-free experience.
