Fujairah welcomes Polish tourists after striking travel deal

A view of the sea and mountains from Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort on the Fujairah coast, major attractions for visitors to the emirate. Randi Sokoloff / The National

FUJAIRAH // The emirate and the Polish city of Warsaw will soon be swapping tourists following Fujairah’s deal with a travel company.

About 4,500 Poles will visit Fujairah’s Hajar Mountains, beaches and historical sites over the next six months as direct flights get under way between the two cities.

Under the agreement between Rainbow Tourism Group and the Fujairah Tourism & Antiquities Authority, a flight with about 190 passengers will land in Fujairah on Mondays for six months from next month onward.

Ahmed Al Shamsi, the authority’s chairman, said the deal would “play a major role in boosting tourism and will be a step to introduce Fujairah to the world”.

He hoped it would encourage tourism companies to add Fujairah to their lists of favourite destinations.

Mr Al Shamsi said the emirate was enjoying a tourism boom and the deal would boost hotel occupancy rates and draw tourism investment.

“We will work on signing more agreements with other tourism providers,” he said.

Patrick Antaki, general manager of Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, said the deal was the start of international business for Fujairah. The emirate, he said, was the most picturesque in the country.

“This will have a positive effect on hotels and related busines-ses in the area because it will increase the flow of tourists,” said Mr Antaki.

“Currently, visitors from the Russian Commonwealth, Germany and the UK represent most of our incoming market. Poland is a relatively new feeder market and looks like a strong one, too.”

Fujairah International Airport said it was fully prepared to meet demand. The airport, which can handle up to 2 million passengers a year, will be handling four passenger flights a day.

The airport has 11 check-in counters, a departure lounge with seating for 600 people, duty-free shops, a business lounge and three departure gates, according to Charles Hajdu, the airport’s acting general manager. The arrival floor has 12 immigration counters, a duty-free shop and two baggage belts.

Mr Hajdu said the airport had plans to handle more inbound flights in the future.

“This agreement is a welcome one and it will be one of many to come as it contributes to the economic development of the UAE and Fujairah by supporting the growing tourism industry in Fujairah,” he said.