Ras Al Khaimah is the first destination in the Middle East to earn this level of recognition for sustainability
The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah has been awarded Silver Certification under EarthCheck’s Sustainable Destinations programme, said to be the world’s leading scientific benchmarking and certification programme for tourism destinations.
According to a press statement, the emirate is the first destination in the Middle East to earn this level of recognition for sustainability.
The statement says that the certification process is underpinned by EarthCheck’s in-depth scientific criteria and also involves meticulous monitoring, benchmarking, and auditing across 10 sustainability indicators, ranging from energy and water consumption to waste management, carbon footprint analysis and community engagement.
According to the statement Ras Al Khaimah’s sustainability certification is all the more significant considering the challenges posed by the region’s climate, calling for a more robust approach to managing energy and water consumption than most in order to meet EarthCheck’s stringent requirements.
It says that the Silver Certification comes just weeks before the United Nations’ climate change conference COP28 that is being held in the UAE in late November. The conference agenda this year will focus on achieving the global emissions reduction target of 43 pc by 2030.
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) Chief Executive Officer, Raki Phillips says that achieving EarthCheck’s Silver Certification reinforced Ras Al Khaimah’s ambition to become the UAE’s and the region’s sustainable tourism leader by 2025.
‘‘This landmark achievement amplifies our commitment to sustainable, balanced, and purpose-driven tourism industry growth.
My gratitude goes out to our tourism community for their relentless dedication to achieving EarthCheck’s Silver Certification, which not only substantiates Ras Al Khaimah’s commitment to sustainable tourism but also aligns with our ambitious goal of welcoming over three million visitors by 2030,” says Phillips.
EarthCheck founder and Chief Executive Officer, Stewart Moore, says that Ras Al Khaimah’s Silver status would bolster and enhance its tourism industry and its business operators locally.
“Congratulations to Ras Al Khaimah for being certified under EarthCheck’s Sustainable Destination program, and for being a part of EarthCheck’s Leading Destinations of the World Programme. The destination management commitments and sustainable tourism guidelines not only provide a strategic framework to drive and foster action across the community and industry, but they position Ras Al Khaimah as a regional leader in sustainable tourism. Embracing sustainable principles will ensure that Ras Al Khaimah’s unique environment and rich culture can be both fostered and protected as the tourism industry continues to grow. EarthCheck looks forward to being an active partner in this journey,” says Moore.
The statement adds that Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority has also launched its own sustainability certification programme for tourism businesses, Responsible RAK. Over 20 tourism businesses are part of the programme today.
