'Sharjah Summer Breaks' campaign continues successfully

The campaign, themed "Sharjah Summer Breaks", includes a diverse selection of holiday package options for tourists to choose from, with Sharjah's hotels and hotel apartments offering very attractive rates for the period from 15 June until 15 August 2009.

This successful promotional initiative is part of the Authority's plans to attract a large number of tourists from both the domestic and international markets and give them an ideal opportunity to enjoy Sharjah's highly attractive natural and cultural tourism assets. The promotion aims to attract visitors to the annual Sharjah Summer Promotions, where a host of shopping and promotional activities and events that began on 13 June will take place throughout the emirate until 25 July 2009.

H.E. Mohamed A. Al Noman, Director General of the SCTDA, highlighted the importance of government-private partnership to provide the best services for tourists and residents alike, and to make this tourism promotion a success. He referred to the cooperation between the SCTDA and Sharjah's hotel premises, which he explained was the key to the success of this campaign, and a new addition to a series of fruitful joint efforts between the Authority and hotel sector.

Al Noman underlined the importance of Sharjah's position as a leading destination for cultural, heritage and family tourism: "Sharjah's unique tourism product enjoys great growth potential, as cultural tourism accounts for 37% of world travel, a figure that is growing by 15% annually, according to the World Tourism Organization", he said.

Al Noman added:

"With the current global economic downturn and fears of H1N1 contagion, UAE residents are increasingly turning to domestic tourism options. Sharjah is already a destination of choice for GCC tourists, and the number of regional tourists is projected to increase this year, as Sharjah, with its highly attractive natural and cultural tourism assets, will be an ideal destination for tourists, particularly with the current fears surrounding H1N1 in Europe and East Asia."

"The appeal of Sharjah's tourist product to residents and GCC and Arab tourists is unrivalled, and we are keen to reaffirm the emirate's competitiveness as a unique tourist destination for residents. Success in this regard will give the domestic tourism sector further momentum, as we capitalize on the strength of our domestic tourism market, in parallel with our efforts to attract foreign tourists. This will significantly enhance tourism revenue and the local economy, and will encourage similar initiatives in other emirates of the UAE," he added.

The SCTDA-organized "Sharjah Summer Breaks" promotional campaign has so far been a magnet for domestic and international tourists, who have come to Sharjah to enjoy a wonderful holiday where fun, entertainment, adventure and amusements come together in a single destination with top class entertainment facilities, hotels and resorts, and tourist activities. Sharjah's reputation as a unique destination for cultural tourism, with abundant museums that offer impressive and memorable moments to enrich any visit, has also attracted tourists from all over the globe.