Prioritizing people and the planet, a destination flooding with scenic beauty and mesmerising skyline! Travel Turtle spoke to Reema Almokhtar, Director- Destination Public Relations of Red Sea Global about the expansion and vision for the destination.
Red Sea Global believes in steadfast dedication to providing people with experiences and opportunities that are unmatched in the globe, along with assistance to the local communities of the destinations. It is a company driven by outstanding staff members who exemplify the transformative vision for sustainable tourism and responsible development.
On the lines of Regenerative Tourism
The new age of tourism is gradually taking steps towards creating something for everyone. Destinations and properties are keen on catering to travellers while maintaining sustainable ways of living. Red Sea Global is focused to maintain a reduced level of carbon footprint and promises a luxury experience whilst keeping the promise to save the environment and keep the coral reefs better than before.
Reema enlightens us with the sustainable measures they abide by to reach the level of growth they aim for and shares, “All our operators whether it is hotels or experiences have to bind by our sustainability measures which means zero waste landfill and no plastic use. We have plenty of rules and regulations that we follow. The idea is to leave the place even better than when we first visited the location and to save the corals.”
Expectations with a destination showcasing island and coral reef are to diverge into cruising as well but Red Sea Global wants to keep the experience very niche and eclectic by providing electric boats, seaplanes and electric cars to indulge in the luxurious realm that they offer. They are married to the idea of keeping the environment in mind and building on the grounds of Sustainability.
Extended family for Red Sea Global
It is a very exciting time for Red Sea Global as they have recently launched Akun, which is an adventure sports company for the kingdom that will provide the best adventure and sports experiences at The Red Sea Global and Amaala. “Akun will provide the experience of a lifetime to the travellers and will work beautifully with our six senses resort which is opening this year with over 60 keys. When you visit Ummahat Island, the two beautiful resorts St. Regis and Ritz Carlton are in the pipeline for this year with a total of 250 keys available for travellers to enjoy the magnificence of Red Sea Global,” shares Reema.
Apart from the series of additions to the Red Sea Global family mentioned above the consumer-facing companies WAMA and Galaxea for water sports experience of scuba diving, kayaking, snorkeling etc. take you through the sea in the most innovative way.
Furthermore, she adds “We have announced three brands to operate in the area, Rosewood, Jayasom, a wellness operator and Clinique La Prairie to Amaala. The focus resonates with the idea of a wellness tourism destination with parts of luxury to it.”
Jayasom and Clinique are the first to come in the Middle East in the Red Sea, while Amaala offers a luxury segment with activities. The marine life institute is a cornerstone for Amaala as it is operated by scientists who have studied the Red Sea ecosystem and ensured the prevention of the island and reefs.
Retention for travellers
Reaching an audience that is aligned with the grounds of sustainability and appreciates ultra-luxurious treatment requires precision and a team that knows the correct ways to tap potential markets. When asked about targeting the potential audience Reema shares “When it comes to India, we work closely with Think Strawberries who have got our marketing and PR with the travel trade covered. They have the strongest network in the country where they bring to us the top travel trade media that speak to our target audience.”
Showcasing the destination on every platform will fulfill the purpose of reaching the target audience which has been done by Red Sea Global including roadshows, sales calls etc. Red Sea Global is the perfect fit for India as they cater to MICE, weddings, wellness and leisure, and the demands of the Indian audience. Adding to this she says, “We are looking to customize packages and experiences for them to make sure that they come back. We want retention and to build this relationship of tourism, not only religious tourism and business tourism but leisure tourism as well. The response from the Indian market has been incredible so far, as the Indian audience is educated and resonates with the Saudi Arabian culture. Both India and Saudi Arabia are very rooted countries in terms of their culture and beliefs along with hospitality. This is creating a strong comfort level between the Indian travellers and the destination.”
Red Sea Global offers travellers a journey through the coral reefs like no other destination, with its luxurious properties and sustainable futuristic approach; they aim to create a recall value for the visitors. “We are launching JMP with a lot of travel trade media and companies with the presence in many important trade shows.”
Connecting to the world
Accessibility creates plays a crucial role in keeping the tourism growth for any destination which can be achieved by creating smooth flights and reachability. The Red Sea International Airport is opening this year with flights coming from Riyadh. “Anyone who wants to visit Saudi will go to Riyadh, which is one and a half hours from the destination. Next year flights from Jeddah will also be accessible, international airports mean international flights from all over the world,” shares Reema.
The countries under the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are on priority for Red Sea Global, and India is the very second. Red Sea Global has been in talks since 2018, it is important to tap and access the market that will create travellers to the destination. UK, Germany, Italy and France are next on the list. Reema mentions, “We are pushing hard to welcome Indian travellers, as the booking window is shorter as compared to the UK and other European countries.”
An aspect that plays a vital role in the tourism influx from the Indian market is the proximity along with an easier booking window and smooth system for acquiring visas. Travellers these days focus on hassle-free travel routes, and the Red Sea avails exactly that.
