Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and RAK Ports authorized a strategic MoU to establish and strengthen the shop cruise ship and water tourist proposition in Ras Al Khaimah. The contract was signed by Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourist Advancement Authority and Captain Clifford William Brand Name, CEO of RAK Ports.

The strategic ceremony took place at the first of its kind Cruise Workshop organsied by RAKTDA on Sixth May 2018, which saw the participation of General Managers from the Emirate's leading resorts, location administration firms, and main agents from RAK Customs, Immigration and Ports authority.

Under the arrangement, RAKTDA and RAK Ports will service several maritime tasks to support the growth of shop cruise and water tourist offerings. To attain these objectives RAK Port Authority will complete the transformation of its existing ferryboat terminal into a modern and efficient boutique cruise traveler incurable and create marine transportation facilities around it, while RAKTDA will design visitor plans for arrivals throughout the 2018-2019 period to bring in recreation cruise ship passengers. RAK Ports will likewise facilitate water tourism procedures by creating state-of-the-art ferryboat, abra and water bus guest platforms, commence water bus service from RAK Creek to Al Hamra, Marjan, Mina Al Arab, and produce a marine licensing authority for leisure Dhows, water buses and abras lugging passengers in RAK territorial water (under the Ports Authority).

Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority commented: "As part of our Destination 2025 tourism approach to draw in 3 million site visitors to Ras al Khaimah by the end of 2025, we determined the cruise section as a key part of the strategy, and since

we have been servicing establishing the framework to advertise our cruise tourist recommendation. In the last 2 years we have been concentrating on the international diversification of our visitor resource markets, where we continue to see dual figure development, as we promote our offering to the three key recreation sectors, including energetic adventurers, wellness hunters and cultural explorers".

"Visitors could enjoy a flight on the world's lengthiest zip line at the top of Jebel Jais in addition to several genuine nature and society based experiences in Ras Al Khaimah, which boasts a wealth of all-natural properties such as 64km of pristine shoreline, the greatest mountains in the UAE, in addition to diverse landscapes such as desert and springtimes. With this partnership with RAK Ports, we aim to draw in shop cruise vessels to RAK Port in 2018, opening up a unique suggestion for cruise passengers" he added.

"We are anticipating this partnership with RAKTDA, and confident that it will play a key duty in sustaining Ras Al Khaimah's vision of growing the cruise tourist industry and understanding their tourism technique. We have finished the development of the city's very first boutique cruise vessel guest terminal, which will certainly be able to fit several cruise liner docking all at once, and have actually installed brand-new security steps such as face recognition CCTV, baggage and individual baggage X-Ray machines to guarantee that traveler get an impressive service and take pleasure in a hassle-free experience" commented Captain Clifford William Brand, Chief Executive Officer of RAK Ports.

The collaboration will certainly entail joint straight advertising and marketing efforts to promote Ras Al Khaimah as a destination and bring in boutique cruise liner operators from across the world.