Post on 21-Feb-2023
Introduction
Interest in the potential value of tourism is growing rapidly as a new engine of
economic growth in the low development and high unemployment era around the world.
The surge in interest is attributed to the continued rapid growth of the international
tourism and domestic tourism industries, and to the greater economic ripple effects of
job creation than other industries. To develop the tourism industry into a new growth
industry in the 21st century, it is urgent to strengthen the competitiveness of the
domestic tourism industry and there is a need to develop from the low-wage labor
industry to a high value-added industry that creates decent jobs.
The tourism industry contributed 11.1 percent of the UAE economy in 2018. The
UAE's travel and tourism sector will contribute US$44.6 billion to the national GDP
and create 18,000 new jobs in 2017, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council
2017 UAE Economic Impact Report. In terms of GDP contribution, the travel and
tourism sector in the United Arab Emirates is expected to account for 12.4 percent of
the country's total GDP in 2027, which is equivalent to the currency value of $72 billion.
As of 2017, investment in the travel and tourism sectors reached 7.0 percent of the total
investment, or AED26.2 billion.
[Picture 1] How does travel & tourism compare to other sectors?/ Friday
Activating local tourism is a homework that any country has. Large metropolises,
including the metropolitan area, are already flooded with infrastructure and other
tourism resources, technology, restaurants, and convenient traffic, resulting in one or
two or three cities for all tourists, including citizens.
In the United Arab Emirates, all infrastructure tends to be concentrated in Dubai. The
difference from other countries is that the United Arab Emirates has all the tourist
resources in Dubai, not Abu Dhabi, the capital, unlike the usual capital city hot place.
Al Ain, where UAEU is located, is also located in Abu Dhabi, but there are many
difficulties for tourists to enjoy sightseeing easily. Even though it is the capital, there is
no subway or enough bus here. The price of the Taxi, which has become the only means
of transportation, is not cheap also.
The three biggest factors that should not be left out in the tourism industry are
transportation, communication, and tourist activities. For Dubai, these three factors are
well equipped, and most of the tourist attractions are related to entertainment and
shopping. And these tourist attractions are already well-made and well-promoted. Very
far later, other cities can catch up with Dubai and develop into great tourist cities, but
now that the main airport is in Dubai, it is unlikely that other cities will develop into
larger tourist cities than Dubai (and in that Dubai is geographically closest to Abu
Dhabi). Therefore, it would be better for Dubai to keep developing on these area and
other cities to focus on other areas. Therefore, I want to develop the tourism industry in
Ras al-Khaimah, focusing on the fact that it is out of the city center, the natural
landscape is outstanding and the traditional culture is better preserved.
The main cities of Ras Al-Khaimah and Tourism Development Plan
The biggest geographical advantage of Ras al Khaimah is that fishing and agriculture
have developed together as it is located on the outskirts of the country and is close to
the sea and is surrounded by mountains in some villages. Ras Al-Khaimah has the most
fertile soil in the country due to the high rainfall and underground water from the Hajar
River. Therefore, I want to develop this city by taking advantage of its natural
advantages. First, we will look at the towns and the items that can be developed.
1. Al hamra village - ras al khaimah harbor, fish market, Cruise & Yacht & Kayak,
coastal walk, Al Jazeera diving & swimming center, Aryana Fishing Trips Ras Al
Khaimah, Crab Hunting in the Mangrove, fishingUAE(https://fishinguae.com/ras-al-
khaimah/)
2. Masafi – Wadi Shawka kayak&boat, water museum
3. Digdaqah – agriculture tourism(dates, berries), Rak Natures Treasures, Rak Zoo, Al
Sawan Camel Track
4. Al Rams - Suwaidi Pearls
Next, we will take a look how to develop tourism by categories. The problem is that
the UAE's tourism business is large, but all investment and infrastructure are
concentrated in Dubai, and that it is limited to the entertainment and sports sector, which
makes it impossible to generate profits in other areas. Therefore, it is important to
expand the size of the tourism industry in various industries.
1. Expanding the Tourism Industry
1-1. Leisure Tourism
The WTTC found that leisure travel dominated tourism spending in the United Arab
Emirates in 2016, 77.4 percent compared to 22.6 percent of travel spending, or
AED336 billion. Spending on leisure travel increased 3.7 percent to $32.47 billion in
2017 and is expected to rise 4.8 percent to AED191.5 billion in 2027.
1-2. Eco Tourism
Al Ain has Jabal Hafeet, Ras Al-Khaima has Jabal Zais. Jabal Zais is a colder place
than other areas inside Ras Al khaima, which has the lowest temperature in the UAE
and has a large temperature difference between day and day, and sometimes snow
falls below zero in the winter. The government has opened a mountain road with more
than 300 million dirhams invested in it, and the Ras Al-Khaima government plans to
develop the area in a massive bid to attract tourists. The area will include hotels, golf
courses, para gliding boarding grounds and ski slopes.
1-3. Agriculture Tourism
Digdaqah is the main farming area in Ras al Kahimah, so it would be good to develop
this area for agriculture tourism. If there is a farm with cows and sheeps, tourists can
experience getting milk and learn how to make cheese or harvesting berries. At ras al
khaimah harbor, It would be nice to make fish market, Cruise & Yacht & Kayak place,
and coastal walk. There is Al Jazeera diving & swimming center, Aryana Fishing Trips
Ras Al Khaimah at Al Hamra Village. The government also have to promote and
develop these places.
Crab Hunting in the Mangrove, fishing would make wonderful experience to family
tourists.
1-4. DIY Tourism
Date products making, Pearl products making, Jam making with berries could be a
wonderful example.
2. Increase the Demand of Tourism Industry
2-1. Actively promote, Use of SNS and blog, blogging, Youtube
It should move away from the conventional framework and use media used by many
people. The billboards at news and bus stops have no longer been effective as
advertisements. Advertisements in modern society should deliver impressive
messages in a short time and should be video.
2-1-1. Advertisement for residents
There’s no much efforts needs for residents. If they have good facilities and good
attractions, it will naturally be promoted through mouth of mouth.
2-1-2. Advertisement for foreigners
Of course, the government and firm’s promotion is important, but the most
important way to advertise a place is visitor’s review. But there will be lots of lacks
to collect people who are good at and interested in promoting. There is one of the
methods that Korea use for this. The government or the company recruits students
who are interested in it and give them scholarship and certificate. Those students
have to upload at least 1 post every week.
3. Development of transportation
Shades are a very important factor in walking in a hot country. On the beach, we can
create another tourist destination by creating sidewalks, bike paths, public bikes and
walking trails around the coastal areas.
There’s too less buses and taxis in other cities except Dubai. There’s no doubt that
transportation is a prerequisite in the tourism industry.
4. Application Utilization
They need more effort to make better apps. Many apps here do not find the exact
location of users and do not provide real-time information. The delivery men can't speak
both English and Arabic fluently, so they can't communicate properly with customers.
Therefore, I think the app should play this role instead. The map must know the exact
location, the refund must be made through the app at any time without a call, and the
complain for the service must also be made and resolved through the app.
5. UAE Telecoms' Problems
UAE's data systems are too complex and expensive even for locals to understand. The
Visitor Plan, used by most tourists, is 100 AED per two weeks and offers only 1 GB.
Providing only 1 GB per two weeks in modern times, where Google Maps, mobile
bookings and mobile translation are commercialized, is like omitting the most basic
needs, such as food and beverage. Making cell phones unavailable to tourists who come
to a new world, new country, full of unfamiliar environments and incomprehensible
languages is like asking them to survive on their own in the middle of the desert. There
is also an absurd lack of explanation for the data system. Most tourists don't know about
the fact that they can buy data at convenience stores. In addition, there are not many
convenience stores in UAE and foreigners do not know where a convenience store is.
They save 1GB for two weeks and use data to find directions and information. There is
only one reason why the UAE insists on doing so without changing its system, to use
data as a means of making money for the nation. However, there is a fatal flaw in this
case. First, long-term tourists disappear. Tourists will all try to complete the trip in two
weeks and plan a two-week trip. Second, tourists who travel long distances disappear.
If information retrieval is restricted, tourists want to stay in the safest place and only
where Wifi works. For them, they feel stable where the Internet works well and where
they can reach their families on the Internet. There is also a big restriction on checking
the location and time of the express bus. As mentioned above, most of the infrastructure
is concentrated in Dubai and other areas are very underdeveloped. This is a circular
effect. Without tourists, the government will not feel the need to develop the area, and
without the development of the area's infrastructure, tourists will lose their will to visit
the area. For example, in other countries, In Taiwan, tourists can select data and use data
indefinitely, divided into 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, 8 days, 10 days, 15 days and 30 days.
To sum up, mobile phones are a necessity in modern society, and disseminating the
Internet, a prerequisite for using them, at a reasonable price helps boost the local
economy and develop the tourism industry.
Conclusion
Tourism is one of the industries that any country wants to develop. It is not just an
area where just huge sums of money is needed to make it successful, as it must make
the attractions and tourism products which contain the country's features and charming
points. I think only the people who know the country better than anyone else and love
it more than anyone else can develop it in an effective way. They are not foreign
countries with a lot of technology and not a foreigner who has lived in the UAE for a
long time. They are emirates people,
It is impossible for the state to develop the tourism industry alone. The country's role
goes as far as trimming roads, building highways, supplying water and electricity,
managing taxes on tourism and expanding public transportation. Creating tourist
attractions, tourism products, places of activity, restaurants and accommodations is a
business's job. Therefore, close cooperation between the government and businesses is
needed, and the government should pushfully help companies grow actively.
Reference:
https://www.thefirstgroup.com/en/news/uae-travel-and-tourism-sector-s-economic-
importance-growing-wttc/ /THE FIRST GROUP
https://government.ae/en/information-and-services/visiting-and-exploring-the-
uae/travel-and-tourism/tourism-and-economy / World Travel and Tourism Council, The
Official Portal of the UAE Government
https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/ras-al-khaimah-to-host-new-wttc-
forum/ /breaking travel news
https://fridaymagazine.ae/life-culture/people-profiles/the-teacher-s-pets-the-story-of-
fujairah-s-tireless-animal-welfare-hero-1.2306437/ Friday