RTA Inks Agreement With SNTTA To Boost Tourist Sector

Eisa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari, CEO of Public Transport Agency, Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), stressed the need for making concerted efforts between government & semi-government sectors in identifying the best ways & means of boosting the public transport sector spanning the metro, public buses and marine transit modes. Integration with this sector, coupled with the availability of sophisticated public transport network and superb tourist facilities, have made the UAE in general and Dubai Emirate in particular a global hub for hosting events as well as commercial & economic activities captivating the attention of investors, business leaders, tourists and visitors from all corners of the globe in addition to a sustained attention of citizens and residents of the UAE.

Al Dosari made this statement when signing an agreement between RTA Public Transport Agency and Sharjah National Travel & Tourism Agency (SNTTA); one of the biggest tourist companies operating in the UAE and the tourist arm of Sharjah Government. The Agreement was signed on behalf of the RTA by Eisa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari, CEO of Public Transport Agency, and on behalf of SNTTA by its General Manager T. L. Shivram Iyer, in the presence of several directors, managers and employees of both parties.

Al Dosari welcomed the signing of the Agreement considering it a vital step in constituting a futuristic strategic partnership between the RTA and SNTTA, and a key platform for boosting the tourist & mass transit sectors in view of the solid relationship between the two sectors and the pivotal role they play in serving tourists & visitors pouring in the UAE, particularly during the tourist season.

“The Agreement aims to boost the tourist marine transport through using the Water Bus, Water Taxi and Ferry Dubai, which are operated by Marine Transport Dep’t of Public Transport Agency. The Agency is eying to broaden and boost this sector, especially the tourist service, in keeping with the extensive development seen by the UAE overall and Dubai Emirate in particular in all fields highlighted by the tourist sector; which is one of the key and robust sectors of the Emirate; generating growing revenues, especially in winter,” stated Al Dosari.

“We are delighted to see the RTA playing a vital role in uplifting the tourist business as a whole and contributing effectively to boosting the tourist marine transport in particular. The RTA is always keen on coordinating efforts aimed at realizing the vision of the Dubai Government and the reputed profile of the Emirate in the financial, service & tourist sectors through offering top-quality services aligned with the highest international standards of the industry, and engaging in partnerships with relevant entities such as hotels and tourist agencies operating in the UAE,” added Al Dosari.

He reiterated the Agency’s readiness to cooperate with SNTTA not only in enhancing the tourist marine transport but also in offering all the requisite means needed for encouraging hotel residents to use public transport means, such as public buses and Dubai Metro, to ease their mobility in the Emirate and make their visits memorable experiences.

For his part by T. L. Shivram Iyer, General Manager of SNTTA, expressed his pleasure for signing this Agreement with Public Transport Agency, considering it one of the key steps in forging mutual cooperation in the interest of the tourist and marine transit sectors of the UAE.

“Since established in 1976, SNTTA was keen on making effective contribution to boosting the tourist sector not just in Sharjah but also throughout the entirety of the UAE. During the tourist season we receive increasing numbers of tourists hailing from European & Asian countries as well as other countries, and we are confident that cooperation with the RTA will bring about added values to the galaxy of services we offer to tourists & visitors considering RTA’s advanced & recreational marine transit means in place; which are preferred by tourists & visitors in spending a funny time in Dubai Emirate,” continued Shivram.

“Among the key factors making Dubai Emirate a preferred tourist destination for many visitors from all over the world is its advanced infrastructure, high security & stability, and ambition to have the best and keep pace with the global advancements in public transport and tourism industries,” further added Al Dosari.

“The Agreement seeks to bring about mutual benefits through mapping out the partnership framework, provide for making joint efforts to enhance the service of marine transport services, especially the Water Taxi and Ferry Dubai, and maintain communication and contacts to serve the joint interests. The Agreement also provides for cooperation in the field of advertising & marketing of marine transit services where a brief account about the Water Bus, Water Taxi and Ferry Dubai will be inserted in the brochure of SNTTA including the tourist landmarks of Dubai Emirate which will be distributed to key tourist firms inside the UAE and beyond. The two parties will also make joint efforts towards enhancing the performance, simplifying processes and uplifting the customer service experience through division of work on the lines of specialty. In this regard, SNTTA will add (scheduled & tourist) trips on board Ferry Dubai, Water Bus and Water Taxi to its promotional packages and market them locally and abroad. Accordingly, the role of the RTA will be restricted to offering mass transit services or tours as per the scheduled trips or as provided for in the operational regulations of marine transit means set for serving tourists and visitors of the UAE without involving any surcharges. The Marine Transport Dep’t will set aside a discount for SNTTA (as endorsed by the Committee for Studying Investment Options for Public Transport Agency).

The signing of this Agreement also serves Goal No (3) of RTA Strategic Goals i.e. Customers Centricity, through heeding to customer requests and raising their satisfaction with the mass transit services; which is achievable through communicating with SNTTA towards working out a framework based on objective discussions between the two parties. It also serves the Strategic Objective No (4) i.e. Encouraging Public Transport, where SNTTA will include trips on board marine transit modes to the itineraries of tourists or visitors. The Agreement also serves RTA Strategic Goal No (6) i.e. Financial Sustainability through increasing the revenues of marine transit means, enabling optimal utilization of assets, and enhancing the interaction of the public sector with other sectors. Through increasing the ridership, the occupancy of services will be up, thus contribute to the optimal utilization of the existing resources of the RTA and augmenting its incomes.

Emirate:  Dubai

Date: Oct 3, 2012

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