Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Authority strengthens leadership with key appointments
Aims for one-third of GDP from tourism by 2030
DUBAI: Ras Al Khaimah is on the brink of a transformative era in its tourism landscape, bolstered by the recent appointments of Brent Anderson as Chief Commercial Officer and Emil Petrov as Vice President of Strategy and Insights at the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA).
These strategic hires are poised to enhance the Authority’s vision of positioning the emirate as a premier tourism destination, particularly as it aims to solidify its identity as the ‘Destination of the Future’.
With tourism playing an increasingly vital role in the emirate’s economy, RAKTDA is set to accelerate its growth trajectory through innovative leadership and fresh insights.
Leadership transformation
Brent Anderson, a veteran in the tourism sector with over three decades of experience, joins RAKTDA to spearhead the emirate's commercial tourism strategy. His extensive background in strategic tourism marketing and partnership development, notably at Tourism Australia, equips him with the necessary tools to elevate Ras Al Khaimah's appeal. During his tenure as Regional General Manager for South & South-East Asia (SSEA), Anderson played a pivotal role in transforming the region into Australia's fastest-growing source of visitors. This experience will be crucial for RAKTDA as it seeks to attract new source markets and foster sustained visitor growth in a post-pandemic world.
In his new role, Anderson will lead RAKTDA’s Commercial Tourism Destination teams, encompassing Destination Tourism Development, Marketing and Communications, and Community Outreach & Events. His mandate includes expanding global partnerships, enhancing aviation connectivity, and launching strategic marketing campaigns to heighten awareness of Ras Al Khaimah’s diverse offerings.
Strategic insights
Joining Anderson is Emil Petrov, whose impressive 15-year career spans both the tourism and telecommunications sectors.
As Vice President of Strategy and Insights, Petrov is tasked with shaping Ras Al Khaimah’s long-term tourism vision while aligning stakeholders to achieve cohesive development goals. His previous role as Head of Strategy and Strategic Projects at Tourism New Zealand saw him leading the "Enrich 2025" strategy, which successfully enhanced the country’s tourism export earnings by 50 percent. This experience positions him to significantly contribute to Ras Al Khaimah’s goal of becoming one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the region.
The vision for the future is ambitious, with RAKTDA aiming for tourism to contribute one-third of Ras Al Khaimah’s GDP by 2030. As part of this vision, both Anderson and Petrov will focus on sustainable tourism practices, ensuring that growth in the tourism sector complements the emirate's overall livability and environmental goals.
"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," stated Raki Phillips, CEO of RAKTDA. Their leadership is seen as crucial in propelling the emirate’s tourism industry into a new era of growth and innovation, reinforcing Ras Al Khaimah’s commitment to sustainable development and enhanced global standing.