There is a 50 pc increase in export earnings: RAKTDA
To support its tourism development strategy and long-term growth objectives, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) in the United Arab Emirates has expanded its executive leadership team with the appointments of Brent Anderson as Chief Commercial Officer and Emil Petrov as Vice President of Strategy and Insights.
In a press statement, RAKTDA says that Anderson will lead the commercial tourism strategy for the emirate. Anderson brings three decades of experience in strategic tourism marketing, partnership development, and stakeholder engagement. At Tourism Australia, he previously served as Regional General Manager for South & South-East Asia (SSEA), where the region became the fastest-growing and second-largest source of visitors to Australia. During the post-pandemic period, SSEA was also the fastest-recovering region, thus contributing to Australia’s tourism recovery.
The tourism board adds that in his new role, Anderson will oversee destination tourism development, marketing and communications, and community outreach & events, where he will be responsible for expanding global partnerships, enhancing aviation connectivity, and driving marketing and communication campaigns.
Additionally, RAKTDA also states that Emil Petrov with over 15 years of strategic experience in the tourism and telecommunications sectors, will join as Vice President of Strategy and Insights, where he will focus on shaping Ras Al Khaimah’s long-term tourism vision, improving stakeholder alignment, and strengthening data and insight capabilities.
Prior to joining RAKTDA, Petrov was Head of Strategy and Strategic Projects at Tourism New Zealand, where he led the development of the Enrich 2025 strategy.
As per a press statement, RAKTDA says that there is a 50 pc increase in export earnings and has supported New Zealand’s positioning in sustainable tourism.
“The addition of Brent and Emil to our executive team bolsters our strategy of attracting best-in-class talent to drive our tourism agenda forward, as Ras Al Khaimah develops, they will be charged with ensuring that liveability and sustainable tourism growth go hand in hand. Their leadership will be crucial in driving our industry forward and increasing tourism’s GDP contribution to one-third by 2030,” says Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.
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