Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Department declares London's World Travel Market a resounding success

The annual event provides a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade industry to meet, network, negotiate, conduct business and stay abreast with the latest developments in the travel industry.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Chairman of the SCTDA, headed up this year's delegation of representatives for the Emirate of Sharjah, which included Sharjah International Airport, Qanat Al Qasba, Sharjah National Hotels (Oceanic Hotel, Holiday International and Marbella Resort), Sharjah Millennium Hotel, Coral Beach Resort, Embassy Suites Sharjah, Arabian Link Tours, Orient Tours and the Sharjah Museums Department.

There was a large amount of media interest in Sharjah's stand at the exhibition, where Sharjah representatives discussed with a number of VIPs, officials, heads of delegations and other key decision makers in the European tourism industry ways of improving the tourism exchange between their respective countries..

Sharjah is often referred to as the UAE's cultural hub, and the emirate's strong sense of tradition and rich cultural heritage are proving ever more attractive to tourists seeking a taste of authentic Arabia. Its many unique heritage sites and museums, as well as the various promotions and festivals organised by the SCTDA throughout the year, make Sharjah a must-see for all those who travel in the Middle East.

The emirate's participation in the WTM over the years has been successful in attracting visitors, especially from Europe. In fact the number of visitors to Sharjah has risen by 100% over the past five years, with nearly half of all visitors to Sharjah within the last year being European.

Speaking about the event, H.E Mohamed A. Al Noman, Director General of the SCTDA, said, "We are very pleased with our performance at this year's World Travel Market, and we trust that the world's interest in Sharjah and its rich traditional identity will continue to grow. We are making great progress in terms of our strategy for the promotion of Sharjah, and this event is an important factor in measuring the viability and success of our overall strategic plans."