RTA inks MoU with Alpha Tours to promote tourist marine transport

Eisa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari, CEO of Public Transport Agency, Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), stressed the need of making concerted efforts between the public and private sector entities with a view to identifying the best means and practices of boosting the public transport sector spanning the metro, public buses and marine transit modes, and achieving the integration with the tourist sector in Dubai Emirate.

Having in place an advanced public transport network and stylish tourist facilities have made the Emirate a global hub attracting a plethora of events and business activities that capture the attention of investors, business leaders, tourists and visitors pouring in from all corners of the world, let alone rousing the attention of citizens and residents here in the UAE.

A statement to this effect was made during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Public Transport Agency and Alpha Tours LLC; a leading destination management company in the tourist sector of the UAE. The MoU was signed on behalf of the Public Transport Agency by its CEO Eisa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari, and on behalf of Alpha Tours by Adnan Al Aridi, Managing Director of the Company, in the presence of a host of Directors, Managers and officials from both parties. The MoU seeks to boost the tourist transport through making use of the marine transit modes (Water Bus, Water Taxi and Ferry Dubai) at the disposal of Marine Transport Dep’t at RTA Public Transport Agency.

"The Public Transport Agency is seeking to broaden this sector, particularly the tourist lineup comprising the Water Bus, Water Taxi and Ferry Dubai, in keeping with the ongoing development seen by the UAE in general and Dubai Emirate in particular, especially in the tourist field; which is a core sector in the Emirate pumping growing revenues, specifically during the winter season of the Emirate,” said Al Dosari.

“It is great to see the RTA playing a pivotal role in leveraging the tourist drive and contributing effectively to the flourishing of this business in general and the enhancement of the tourist marine transport in particular; which is a testament to our firm belief in the need of offering such services to the tourist sector.

“The RTA is always keen on making concerted efforts towards the realization of the vision of the Dubai Government, and bolstering the prestigious standing of the Emirate in the finance, service and tourist industries through offering best-in-class services aligned with the international practices, and teaming with relevant tourist players such as hotels, and tourist institutions operating in Dubai,” he continued.

Al Dosari further added that the Public Transport Agency would be ready to fully cooperate with Alpha Tours not only in boosting tourist marine transport activities, but also in providing all requisite means for encouraging visitors and hotel guests to use other public transport means such as public buses and Dubai Metro to facilitate their mobility in the Emirate and make their visit a memorable lifetime experience.

For his part, Adnan Al Aridi, Managing Director of Alpha Tours, was delighted with the signing of the MoU with the Public Transport Agency, considering it a crucial step towards fostering solid joint cooperation for serving the tourist and marine transit sectors in Dubai Emirate.

“We have set sail our tourist business from the start of the sweeping development seen by the UAE in all fields and aspects. We are currently witnessing further advancements in the mass transit means with several milestone achieved by the RTA in Dubai. These stunning developments made by the RTA in this sector render a great service to the tourist sector since most tourists & visitors in the world prefer visiting cities that have a solid and advanced infrastructure,” said Al Aridi.

“Among other aspects contributing to making Dubai Emirate a favourite tourist destination for many tourists & visitors coming in from all over the world is the security, stability and ambition to do better, as well as the keen attention to keep abreast of the global development seen by public transport and tourism fields,” he added.
The MoU seeks to bring about mutual benefits through outlining the framework for the partnership relationships between the two parties, making joint efforts to uplift the performance of the marine transit services, particularly the quality service offered by the Water Taxi and Ferry Dubai, and cooperating in the fields of advertising & marketing marine transit services. In this regard it has been agreed to insert a mention to the Water Bus, Water Taxi and Ferry Dubai in the brochures and leaflets of Alpha Tours highlighting the tourist landmarks of Dubai Emirate to be distributed to the main tourist companies locally & abroad.

The two parties will also work together to improve the performance of processes, simplify procedures, and enhance the customer service experience through division of jobs according to the line of specialty where Alpha Tours will add the Water Taxi, Ferry and Water Bus trips (scheduled and tourist service) in its promotional campaigns and market them within the UAE and beyond, such that the role of the RTA (Marine Transport Dep’t) will be restricted to providing mass transit or tourist services as per the approved schedules.

The signing of the MoU serves RTA’s Strategic Goal No (6) for achieving customers centricity through heeding to their demands and raising their satisfaction with the public transport services in the Emirate; which will be enhanced through communicating and teaming with Alpha Tours, and defining the respective roles in the light of extremely transparent & candid discussions and views of the two parties.

The MoU also serves RTA’s Strategic Goal No (4) in encouraging the use of public transport through raising the ridership of public transport means in the Emirate. Here Alpha Tours will book or include trips of marine transit modes in the booking packages offered to tourists and visitors.

Finally, the MoU serves RTA’s Strategic Goal No (6) in achieving the financial sustainability by augmenting revenues of the marine transit modes, ensuring the optimal utilization of assets, and furthering the interaction between the public and private sectors. The increase in ridership means higher occupancy of journeys; which results in the optimal utilization of RTA’s existing resources, and increasing revenues.
 

Emirate:  Dubai

Date: Aug 10, 2012

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