The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority announced on Sunday that the total number of visitors to the emirate from January to May 2012 was recorded at 523,568 visitors, generating a revenue boost at almost Dh277 million ($ 75.5 million).

The main visitor source markets to Ras Al Khaimah were Germany, the UAE, Russia, Austria, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom, with Germany being the strongest market, bringing in more than 172,700 visitors followed by the UAE with 114,000 visitors.

Compared to 2011, Ras Al Khaimah hotels have performed consistently well for the first five months of 2012, with occupancy and daily rates increasing across both beach and city properties resulting a total hotel revenue of almost Dh277 million.

Beach hotels and resorts recorded an occupancy average of 82.42 per cent with an increase of 5.9 per cent, as well as a 23.16 per cent increase in average daily rate, where the revenue per available room, or RevPAR, improved by 32.66 per cent. City hotels showed an increase in the average daily rate by 20.64 per cent and in RevPAR by 32.79 per cent, as well as occupancy, which increased by 6.75 per cent reaching the average of 73.73 per cent.

“Ras Al Khaimah’s popularity among domestic, regional and international visitors continues to rise. This is an extremely encouraging result that both supports and bolsters Ras Al Khaimah’s success as a global affordable luxury destination offering leisure and adventure experiences as well as a viable destination ripe for further tourism investment,” Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority chief operating officer Victor Louis said.