Sharjah Travel industry Advisory Committee meets to discuss 2007 plans

This year will see a healthy presence for the emirate in several of the most significant international tourism and commercial expos, international economic meetings and events; all of which is included in the authority's plans and visions to develop the tourism sector and the emirate's ongoing strategies.

The meeting was headed by Mr. Mohamed A. Al Noman, Director General of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), and attended by the tourism sectors' representatives where they discussed the ways that the emirate's tourism sector could be supported and strengthened.

Mr. Mohamed A. Al Noman welcomed the attendance from hotel representatives, tourism and travel, Sharjah International Airport, Sharjah Expo center and Qanat Al Qasba', he also praised Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, on his keenness to hold this meeting in support of developing this vital sector of the emirate.

The meeting discussed the latest evolvements related to the emirate's hotel classifications where the authority general director assured that hotel classification project is now in its final stages, and will be announced during the first quarter of 2007.

The meeting also discussed a number of important issues related to the way of widening the marketing activities of Sharjah locally, regionally and internationally and the means to develop the tourism services while emphasizing the importance of the many commercial expos.

Additionally, Al Noman glanced through the authority's local and international agenda of participations for the 1st quarter of 2007, and discussed with the hotels' representatives, tourism and travel agencies, Sharjah International Airport and Expo Sharjah, new suggestions for a number of important tourism and commercial events. He also assured that there will be an increase in participation in all local, regional and international expos.

Al Noman stressed that the SCTDA's involvement in local, regional and international events are based on feasibility studies and constructive suggestions from the advisory committee. The attendance of so many key individuals and organizations from Sharjah's tourism industry underlined the importance of the emirate's plans for the coming twelve months, which include appearances at the East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Fair, in Istanbul, Berlin, and UAE - Japan business forum.