Destinations 35


Originally known as Julfar, Ras Al Khaimah has also been previously called Majan and Al Seer


RAS AL KHAIMAH Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority / ME3510


Ras Al Khaimah’s main appeal comes from its diverse landscape, which is peppered with dramatic mountain ranges, rolling desert dunes and a spectacular coastline. Making the most of the natural surround-


ings here, outdoor activities are a major draw and every year diving enthusiasts flock to the emirate to explore the stunning underwater world found off its shores. Hiking in the spectacular Hajar Mountains


has always been a popular activity with visitors. Adding an adrenaline-fuelled activity to the mix, last year saw the launch of the Via Ferrata one-kilometre zip line on Jebel Jais, one of the UAE’s highest mountains. Heritage also features heavily in the emir-


ate and with a history that stretches back 7,000 years, visitors will discover a variety of ancient sites, forts and villages to explore. Ras Al Khaimah saw a 10.9 percent tourist


increase in 2016, with 800,701 people visiting the emirate compared to 740,383 the previous


year. Domestic visitors comprised the biggest single market for the emirate last year, contrib- uting 41.2 percent of the total share. Meanwhile, its four largest source markets


each recorded double-digit year-on-year growth in 2016. German visitors increased by 24.6 percent, the UK was up 35 percent, Russia rose by 19.5 percent and visitors from India went up by 28 percent. In addition to these numbers, the emirate


also saw significant growth from emerging destinations including Kazakhstan, Egypt, the Philippines and the Czech Republic. Looking to capitalise on this momentum,


Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has now set its sights on attracting one million annual travellers by the end of 2019. Already this year, RAKTDA has opened an


office in Shanghai to attract Chinese tourism, sponsored the United Nation’s Year of Sustain- able Tourism for Development, and targeted markets such as the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Poland. Ensuring Ras Al Khaimah is ready to


Historical documents have shown that inhabitants of Ras Al Khaimah travelled as far as Mumbai, China and Zanzibar in the 10th


century


welcome its increasing visitor numbers, several new hotels are in the pipeline. Among the properties scheduled for the


emirate are Hilton Garden Inn Ras Al Khaimah and Citymax Hotel Ras Al Khaimah, both of which are due to open this year. Then, slated for a launch in 2019, Ras Al Khaimah is set to welcome the Mövenpick Al Marjan Island.


Ras Al Khaimah Corniche


Al Jazirah Al Hamra


Zayed Mosque


Spain produces approximately 75 percent of the


world’s olive oil, with most of the country’s output coming from the Andalusia region


SPAIN Spain Tourist Board / EU6330


Famed for its sun-soaked beaches and lively nightlife, Spain also has a fascinating history for visitors to discover. The country’s cultural and historical attrac-


tions are widespread, and it has a massive 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Spain also shares connections with the Middle East, with the Route of the Al-Andalus Heritage comprising several itineraries that take visitors back to the legacy of Islamic heritage in Andalusia. Elsewhere, one of the most famous exam-


ples of Islamic architecture is the Alhambra palace and fortress complex in Granada. Originally constructed as early as 889, it was converted into a royal palace in 1333 and is one of Spain’s most popular tourist attractions. The country’s modern cultural mix shines


in Barcelona, home to stunning architecture, a world-class dining scene and plenty of shop- ping opportunities. Spain is also the world’s most popular destination for golf tourism, according to the


International Association of Golfing Tour Opera- tors. The Costa del Sol, Costa Brava and Canary Islands are all top resorts for those looking to hit the fairways. The world’s third most visited country, Spain


places much emphasis on its tourism product, with the industry accounting for 11 percent of its total annual GDP. The destination posted its fourth consecu-


tive record year for tourist numbers in 2016, with 75.3 million inbound travellers represent- ing a 9.9 percent boost from 2015. Combined, international visitors spent US$80.84 billion (EUR75.78 billion), which marked an 8.3 percent increase from the year before. Spain also saw a huge boom in British visi-


tors last summer, totalling a quarter of July’s 9.6 million travellers - itself a record and up 11 percent from the previous year. The three largest inbound tourist markets in


Spain is the second largest country in the European Union at 195,364 square miles, but it is smaller than the US state of Texas (268,597 square miles)


2016 came from the United Kingdom with 17.84 million visitors, France with 11.37 million and Germany with 11.18 million. The largest tourist market outside of Europe came from the United States, with two million guests. Catering to the steady numbers, hotel


openings this year include Almanac Barcelona, Hotel Barcelo Torre de Madrid, Melia Palma Bay, Sandos El Greco Beach Hotel Ibiza, Edition Hotel Barcelona, Gran Hotel Miramar, Malaga and One Barcelona. 2018 will see the launch of W Madrid and Nobu Hotel Marbella.


Alhambra palace, Granada


Guggenheim Museum Bilbao


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