Ras Al Khaimah Fastest Growing UAE Destination to host PATA Summit

Ras Al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates) – October 12, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is set to organise the PATA Annual Summit 2020 from May 15-18 in Ras Al Khaimah, one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The announcement was made by PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy during the PATA Board Meeting on Sunday, September 16, 2018 at the Langkawi International Convention Centre in Langkawi, Malaysia.

The four-day event, to be hosted by the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), will bring together international thought leaders, industry shapers and senior decision-makers who are professionally engaged with the Asia Pacific region.

PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy said, “Ras Al Khaimah has committed to supporting cultural, natural heritage and environmental preservation across the emirate, activities which are aligned with PATA’s mission in acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. That is why we are honoured to be working with RAKTDA in bringing together our public and private sector members and partners to discuss the challenges and issues facing our industry.”

The Summit embraces a global forum for enhancing the sustainable growth, value and quality of tourism and includes a one-day conference, the PATA Annual General Meeting and the PATA Youth Symposium that allows students and young tourism professionals the opportunity to engage with senior industry leaders.

As part of the event programme, PATA in partnership with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will also once again organise the UNWTO/PATA Leaders Debate which brings together senior executives from both the public and private sector to address thought-provoking issues currently affecting the industry.

Commenting on the announcement, Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said, “We look forward to hosting the PATA Annual Summit 2020 in Ras Al Khaimah and introducing the destination to key international industry leaders and delegates from the travel and hospitality sector in the Asia Pacific region. Strengthening the Emirate’s MICE offer by showcasing our world class resorts, beautiful coastline and abundance of cultural and outdoor adventure experiences, will form an integral part of our Destination strategy as we aim to attract three million visitors by 2025.”

With over 7,000 years of fascinating history and culture, Ras Al Khaimah is the perfect getaway from everyday life. Offering magnificent landscapes, breath-taking coastlines and rich, terracotta desert planes, the emirate is an ideal getaway for both leisure and adventure travel as well as for business travellers.

With year-long sunshine and 64 kilometres of white sandy beaches, just 45 minutes from the busy metropolis of Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah presents an extensive selection of exclusive outdoor activities from mountain biking and kayaking to desert safaris, fishing and golf. Travellers can also have the unique experience of trekking the tallest mountain in the UAE, Jebel Jais, and descending via the world’s longest zipline. These experiences dovetail well with the premium accommodation, the eclectic selection of international gourmet experiences and the world class spas.

About PATA
Founded in 1951, PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its more than 800 member organisations, including 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 20 international airlines and airports, 102 hospitality organisations and 70 educational institutions, as well as over a hundred young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 35 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 21 PATA Student Chapters globally. Their local activities underpins PATA’s membership in Uniting Travel, a coalition of the world’s major Travel & Tourism organisations dedicated to ensuring that the sector speaks with one voice and acts in unison on the major issues and includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing and London. Visit www.PATA.org.

About Ras Al Khaimah
One of the world’s fastest growing tourism destinations, Ras Al Khaimah boasts a rich culture and long-standing history dating back 7,000 years. The Emirate boasts an array of archaeological sites and breath-taking natural vistas, from golden sand beaches, awe-inspiring terracotta dunes and a green belt of date palms to Jebel Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE.

To learn more about Ras Al Khaimah, visit www.rasalkhaimah.ae

About Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA)
The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA) was established in May 2011 under the government of Ras Al Khaimah. In order to achieve target growth of one million visitors by the end of 2018, the authority aims to develop the emirate’s tourism infrastructure and establish Ras Al Khaimah as a world-class destination for leisure and business travel, creating sustainable investment opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for its residents. In order to achieve its goals, the Ras Al Khaimah TDA has a government mandate to license, regulate and monitor the emirate’s tourism and hospitality industry.

Contacts:
PATA
Paul Pruangkarn
Director – Communications
+66 (02) 658-2000 | communications@PATA.org | Bangkok, Thailand

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
Neda Carrillo
Director of Corporate Communications & Public Relations
971 (0)7 233 8998 | neda@raktda.com