Today's Edition
RASHA TABEELA (ABU DHABI)
All hotel projects and tourist attractions in Ras Al Khaimah are being built according to sustainability standards, following the sustainable tourism destination strategy launched by Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, committing to its ambition to make Ras Al Khaimah the leading local and regional destination in sustainable tourism by 2025, said Raki Phillips, the CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.
Phillips told Aletihad that the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority has recently adopted a number of measures and initiatives to enhance the concept of sustainability at tourist sites in the Emirate, including developing the Sustainable Tourism Destination Strategy in September 2021, along with community guidelines and an executive action plan, which was approved in July 2022.
“We have started rolling out the implementation plan of the sustainability strategy, which includes the initiative Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority Responsible Tourism – a business accreditation programme for tourism,” he said. Among the achievements in the tourism sector in Ras Al Khaimah with the implementation of the strategy, Philips said:
“In October of this year, Ras Al Khaimah received the Silver Certification in sustainability from EarthCheck, making the Emirate the first destination in the Middle East, and among the few destinations in the world, to receive this certification.
This achievement is an important step in realising our ambition to become the leading local and regional destination in sustainable tourism by 2025.”
The Silver Certification Many institutions, including hotels, tourist landmarks, and travel companies in the Emirate, have received the Silver Certification in 2023 from EarthCheck, a leading global accreditation programme for tourist destinations, as part of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority’s Responsible Tourism programme, according to Phillips.
“Sustainability is not just an agenda that is prepared once or simply shifting towards a green system, but it is a continuous process that requires long-term commitment covering all aspects of our tourism development strategy. We are responsibly developing hotel projects, starting from using sustainable building materials and energy-saving technologies,” Phillips said.
Moving to cultural heritage, he said that Ras Al Khaimah contributes to cultural heritage preservation, hosting over 1000 archaeological sites, four of which are listed on the preliminary list for World Heritage Sites of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
“Al Hamra Island is the best example of the phased renewal processes centred on sustainable materials to support the existing infrastructure. We also cannot forget the importance of the Emirate in terms of livability and community, as we host more than 50 events annually, including the Ras Al Khaimah Visual Arts Festival and Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, and other events that enhance community interaction in the emirate,”Phillips said.
Sustainability Goals
Regarding the sustainability goals of the Authority in terms of reducing energy and water consumption and carbon emissions, Philips said that good practice in managing the tourism sector more sustainably begins with measuring and understanding the impact of tourism on its surroundings, environment, and local communities.
“There are some key factors that we need to consider, including how the destination uses valuable resources such as water and energy, and how it manages waste,” he added. “As part of our programme for sustainable tourism destinations in collaboration with EarthCheck, we are monitoring sustainability goals and measuring and auditing their performance across 10 sustainability indicators, from energy and water consumption to waste management, carbon footprint analysis, and community engagement,” he continued.
The performance measurement conducted by Ras Al Khaimah as part of the EarthCheck certification programme demonstrates significant progress already made in some areas, he said, adding that in 2022, Ras Al Khaimah’s energy consumption was 23% better than the baseline level, achieving savings of 12.4 million gigajoules since 2021.
Greenhouse gas emissions were also 29% better than the baseline level, with the Emirate achieving savings of 1.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions since 2021. This becomes even more significant when considering the challenges posed by the region’s climate, requiring a more effective approach to managing energy and water consumption to meet the stringent requirements of the programme, the CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority said.
As for the cooperation of the authority with all sites and tourist destinations and the private sector in sustainability, Philips said that the business certification programme, supported by the science and data of EarthCheck, ensures companies appropriately measure their environmental impact. The programme already includes over 25 tourism companies, including Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach, the Cove Rotana Resort, Jebel Jais Flight- world’s longest zipline, Jais Sky Tour - the longest sled ride in the region, 1484 by Puro - the highest restaurant in the UAE, the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp, Ras Al Khaimah Leisure Office, and Safarak Tourism Company. More entities and stakeholders are set to receive the Silver Rating from the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority’s Responsible Tourism Programme.
As part of the sustainability strategy of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, all future hotel projects and tourist attractions will be purposefully built according to sustainability standards and processes, he said.
“A prime example is the anticipated ‘Wynn Marjan Island Resort’, which will be developed with local partners Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding according to the highest sustainability standards and best practices,” he added.
“Wynn Resorts is committed to strong sustainability goals, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 through reducing or offsetting the carbon emissions produced by its operations no later than 2050. It also aims to halt and reverse the annual growth of its operational CO2 emissions, in addition to enhancing its supply of renewable energy produced or purchased to at least 50% of its total consumption by 2030,” Phillips continued.
‘The company’s practices in sustainable design and development have earned its buildings the LEED Platinum certification and the Four Green Globes on a global level.
“We are working on developing sustainable accommodation facilities in Jebel Jais, including ‘Sage Mountain Lodge’, a protected mountain resort hosting eco-friendly accommodation units built using natural and sustainable materials, according to the CEO.
Stunning Natural Beauty
Elaborating on the Emirate’s natural treasures, Philips said: “Ras Al Khaimah is famous for its stunning natural beauty, which imposes a great responsibility on it to enhance and protect its amazing natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage. One of our prominent steps in this direction is our distinguished network of safe walking trails, carefully maintained to allow residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors and celebrate the fantastic terrain that the Emirate is known for.”
A collaborative approach will ensure destinations benefit from tourism to enhance cultural exchange and understanding between the destination’s visitors and local residents, he said, adding that “therefore we launched a tourism experience in cooperation with local mountain tribes, in addition to organising events like the ‘Highlander’ mountain trekking challenge, supported by the wonderful mountain village communities”.
“The Emirate is home to the highest mountain range in the United Arab Emirates, which in turn has hosted generations of tribes. Sustainability is naturally rooted in the lifestyle of these tribes for hundreds of years, as they relied on sustainable practices such as using natural recipes and traditional knowledge in harmony with their surrounding environment. This shows how sustainable practices have been an integral part of our local culture for many centuries,” he noted.
Phillips cited a recent report from Booking.com, there is an expected increase in demand for more sustainable tourism, and tourists are committed to contributing to environmental conservation efforts in their preferred destinations.
According to a survey by the site, the majority of tourists (51%) say that climate change will affect their vacation plans in 2024, while three out of every five travellers (60%) say they want to see sustainability in action when planning their next trip.
“It is encouraging that we share the same views and ideas with our visitors,” according to Phillips. “We are on the right track to achieve our goal of becoming a leading regional destination for sustainable tourism by 2025. The silver certification awarded to us by EarthCheck earlier this year is one of the key milestones in this journey.”
