Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority Launches Electronic Tourism Licenses and Permits System

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority Launches Electronic Tourism Licenses and Permits System

Marjan Island - Ras Al Khaimah.jpg

(Ras Al Khaimah-UAE-November 5, 2012) The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA) Licenses Department, in accordance with the Electronic Government Authority (EGA), has launched the Electronic Tourism Licenses and Permits System in order to simplify and facilitate registration procedures, enhance the experience of customers and investors in the services field, improve the operational capability for running the daily licenses and permits, and meet the high standards and needs of customers in a sufficient manner.

By utilizing the Electronic Tourism Licenses and Permits System, applicants will now be able to get approvals for tourism licenses and permits, as well as easily apply for license and permit renewal, amendments, and annulment. The new system will allow applicants to know the initial approvals of the tourism licenses and permits, inspection requests as well as updating on the status of receipts payment, the granting of licenses and permits as well as also allowing applicants the convenience of printing the documents accordingly.

Ras Al Khaimah Beach

In his first statement about the work of the department and its program, Victor Louis, General Manager of Ras Al Khaimah TDA stated: " Opportunities to attract investment to Ras Al Khaimah abound with our strategic location, free zone, as well as specialized industrial areas to name as just a few examples that are in addition to the enormous help and support the authority provides to Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism sector, including assistance such as the provision of advice and assisting with the creation of various feasibility studies. This is in addition to the stability and security experienced within the UAE as a basic fundamental which has led to the current economic prosperity that we witness in Ras Al Khaimah today. To further enhance these factors the department has managed to implement a systemized policy that encourages investors through the provision of incentives, as well as facilitating and streamlining procedures as much as possible. By launching the Electronic Tourism Licenses and Permits System, we are taking a great step towards simplifying and facilitating procedures for investors who in increasing numbers are choosing to invest in this rising emirate based on solid analysis of the facts and factors that have made Ras Al Khaimah such an attractive destination for investment."

Says Engineer Ahmad bin Said AlSayah, General Manager of EGA: “This project was created following the guidelines laid down specifically for the tourism and investment sectors, as well as the electronic government program by His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, The electronic system will enhance the emirate’s trade mark and its ability to attract investments as well as encourage increased electronic communication between investors, users and the relevant parties.”  

The Ras Al Khaimah Licenses Department was launched as an independent branch of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority in August 2011 as the department responsible for implementing the authority's general policies, organizing the tourism sector in the emirate in accordance to the highest of international standards, taking care of the authority's administrative operations such as issuing licenses and permits for establishments and tourism corporations, classifying and re-classifying hotels, resorts and hotel apartments, and following up with licensing and initial approvals procedures as well as renewal, amendment, and annulment procedures. Furthermore, the department is responsible for the development and implementation of tourism development and training programs. It also supervises locations, tourism establishments, and all kinds of activities related to tourism in accordance with the concerned entities.

Since its establishment, the department has set new standards for hotel establishments with regards to licensing and the classification system, as well as the same for travel agencies and tours operators operating in Ras Al Khaimah. The department’s professional team works to provide a continuous program of research and workshops that aim at improving the level of services in the emirate that reflects and perpetuates the authority’s unique trade mark as "a rising emirate".  

The Licenses Departments goals are to organize initiatives for guaranteeing excellent quality services such as accreditation plans and professional training programs. It also aims at guiding the efforts to improve human resources in the tourism sector, taking the notion of service to another level of excellence, working on guaranteeing the quality and professionalism of tour guiding development programs and activities, evaluating the performance of the emirate’s tour guides and enhancing the cultural, heritage and touristic features of the emirate.

According to the programs and institutionalized work of the department, the authority has trained employees to follow the correct procedures in issuing licenses and permits, has trained inspectors to carry out inspections of travel agencies, entertainment facilities, and hotel establishments, as well as how to write appropriate fines according to their inspection visits. It also had a number of employees attend informatics and customer service classes. Additionally, the Authority has also developed the way tourism licenses are issued and renewed, and shortened the time it usually takes to obtain licenses, while maintaining complete transparency and cooperativeness. Furthermore, the Licenses Department analyzes the internal and external work environment within the Ras Al Khaimah TDA including points of weakness and strength, latent opportunities as well as future challenges. It also determines and classifies the groups of strategic partners that are cooperative with the authority and works to know their real needs and ambitions making periodical comparisons to assess the performance of the authority’s administrative tasks.    

About Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority

The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (Ras Al Khaimah TDA) was established in May 2011 as a Government of Ras Al Khaimah entity to both develop and promote the emirate’s tourism infrastructure and potential both domestically and abroad.

Ras Al Khaimah TDA is responsible for establishing the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah as a premier quality-value destination for leisure, adventure and business travel. In order to achieve its goals, the Authority has a Government mandate to license, regulate and monitor the emirate’s hospitality industry. It conducts research and analysis of future tourism projects and current trends, create and implement the branding, marketing and promotion of Ras Al Khaimahs tourism products and services and develop, implement and support strategies designed to encourage tourism investment into the Emirate.  

Clear strategic goals and targets have been set by Ras Al Khaimah TDA including increasing the total number of annual visitors to Ras Al Khaimah to 1.2 million by 2013, and increasing the emirate’s total hotel and resort room inventory to 10,000 keys by 2016. These targets will be achieved through a myriad of activities including the representation of Ras Al Khaimah tourism industry at overseas travel shows, conferences and exhibitions together with education of travel professionals regarding Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism products and unique attractions through workshops, road-shows, familiarization and training programmes; media and consumer campaigns and promotions; the coordination and implementation of joint initiatives with key travel industry players; the hosting of leading sporting, cultural and trade exhibitions and events; and the development of the Emirate’s tourism infrastructure and attractions through the implementation of strategies and initiatives specifically designed to generate and encourage direct tourism investment and investment opportunities into Ras Al Khaimah.

In 2011 Ras Al Khaimah has received 835,200 visitors compared to 600,000 visitors in the year 2010.

Ras Al Khaimah has its own unique identity with a diversity of landscapes that makes it the perfect getaway for leisure, adventure, and quality-value experiences. The emirate presents an extensive selection of exclusive outdoor adventure activities from mountain climbing and mountain biking to kayaking and fishing. For relaxation visitors to Ras Al Khaimah can enjoy the white sandy beaches and resorts which also offer an eclectic selection of international gourmet experiences and world-class spas. www.rasalkahimahtourism.com