Arab Aviation Summit 2022 in Ras Al Khaimah, ninth edition. The event took place under the title "Roadmap to recovery"!
The 9th edition of the Arab Aviation Summit 2022, which took place in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, was held under the title "Roadmap to recovery". It brought together more than 750 aviation industry leaders and hospitality and tourism specialists, as well as journalists from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates. Key issues facing the aviation and tourism sectors were discussed.
AAS 2022 was organized in collaboration with the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and supported by global industry partners such as Airbus, CFM, Air Arabia, Alpha Aviation Academyw and many more.
The summit did not begin until His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al-Qasimi, a member of the Supreme Council and governor of Ras Al-Khaimah, arrived. He participated in part of the "Arab Aviation Summit 2022" event, which took place at the "Al Hamra International Conference Center" in Ras Al-Kheimah. His Highness: "The hosting of the event is a clear demonstration of our ambitions to develop the aviation and tourism sectors in the United Arab Emirates and to emphasize the position of the United Arab Emirates and its global leadership in these two areas."
On March 1, at the Arab Aviation Summit 2022, top aviation and tourism leaders met to discuss how airlines and tourism thrive in a post-pandemic world. At the same time, the Ukrainian War and how it will influence regional and global tourism were discussed.
Adel Al Ali, CEO of Air Arabia Group, it brought about a change in consumer behavior, especially among the younger generation. The new generations of passengers give higher priority to competitive prices over luxury and also stressed the importance of ensuring a hassle-free travel experience.
Atanasios Titonis, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, said that the pandemic was very challenging for the aviation industry, but is optimistic about the recovery from the crisis and, in the future, is well prepared for the recovery of aviation in the region, but also for future crises. The war in Ukraine may be a new crisis in tourism.
Omar Seraj Akbar, CEO of Zamzam.com - one of the largest accommodation booking portals in the region, said that the pandemic has played a key role in changing people's behavior when it comes to reservations. More and more tourists are choosing to book online, while the number of those who choose to book through a travel agent is steadily declining. This change in behavior, to which the pandemic and technology have contributed, is natural.
Mikail Hourari, President of Airbus Africa and the Middle East, the Middle East is expected to be one of the regions with the fastest post-pandemic recovery. He said the future of aviation lies in sustainability and that the industry needs to take action to combat carbon emissions.
Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) He argued that the aviation sector was key to rebuilding tourism in the region. At the same time, collaborations are important to build a stronger, more sustainable and resilient tourism economy for future generations.
The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah wants strong development in aviation and tourism in the region. It has been shown that the two industries are closely linked and cannot exist without each other. Raki Phillips, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said:This Summit is a chance to have meaningful discussions on the topics of connectivity, sustainability and digital transformation, as well as to implement concrete measures that will help shape the tourism of tomorrow.".
Unfortunately, the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine will be felt in the United Arab Emirates as well. Russia and Ukraine are two major tourist markets for the Emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah. Due to the conflict in Eastern Europe, Raki Phillips, CEO of RAKTDA, acknowledged that in 2022 they will not return to the pre-pandemic figures of 2019. But new markets in Europe will be targeted, such as Italy, France, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania. Scandinavia. There is a need to diversify the clientele.
The summit was also attended by representatives of companies such as Airbus, IATA, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Istanbul Airport and more.
In conclusion, the United Arab Emirates and in particular the Emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah will step on the acceleration for the recovery of tourism in the region. They are aware of the impact of the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, which affected two important markets for them - Russia (No. 1) and Ukraine (top 10). But they will seek to diversify their clientele by targeting new markets in Europe, including Eastern Europe. Arab airlines expect the price of airfare to rise, but at the same time they are optimistic that people will want to travel more. After two years of pandemic, more and more tourists are eager to go on a vacation.