RAK to host UAE World Tourism Day Conference on 29 Sept. 2016

WAM--Ras Al Khaimah will, later this month, host the UAE’s World Tourism Day Conference under the theme ‘Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility’. This is the second World Tourism Day conference being held in Ras Al Khaimah.

The conference is associated with the 2016 United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) World Tourism Day focus on ‘Accessible Tourism’, which is being held on 27 September in Thailand. An annual UNTWO organised event, World Tourism Day seeks to promote responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

The half-day conference, which will be held on Thursday 29th September at the Ras Al Khaimah Convention Centre, will include a keynote address from H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah.

The UAE’s World Tourism Day Conference will bring together international leaders in tourism to stand before an audience of key industry stakeholders from across the UAE to discuss important matters that strengthen the tourism industry in Ras al Khaimah and in the UAE.

Among the keynote speakers is Ivor Ambrose, Managing Director of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) and one of the world’s leading experts in policy and research into disability and ageing, accessible tourism and its social-economic impact.

"Ivor is flying direct from the UNTWO World Tourism Day event in Bangkok to attend the Ras Al Khaimah conference and has expressed his keen support of our commitment to open the debate on accessibility for all within the UAE," noted Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, who will also address the conference.

Since its inception in 1980, World Tourism Day is celebrated annually to foster international awareness of the importance of tourism, its social, cultural, political and economic value, and its potential to contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals which address some of society’s most pressing challenges.

The UNWTO strongly encourages nations to guarantee that all tourist facilities, products and services are accessible for all people. This accessibility is crucial to attain sustainable tourism policies.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority also sees the conference as an opportunity to demonstrate the emirate’s capabilities in staging high profile meetings. "We are supporting the development of our MICE profile with the creation of an events calendar for the destination, which we anticipate will act as a spur to attract additional meetings, convention, incentives and exhibition business," added Mattar.

WAM/Mojak