SCTDA Board of Directors discusses 2010 budget

The SCTDA Board recently held its second meeting for 2009 at the Authority's headquarters in Sharjah. The meeting, which was chaired by H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, SCTDA Chairman, and attended by H.E. Mohamed A. Al Noman, SCTDA Director General, and Board Members H.E. Abdullah Mohammed Al Owais and H.E. Abdul Wahab Al Roumi and H.E. Ali Salem Al Mahmoud focused on the SCTDA's promotional plans and strategies for 2010.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi welcoming the Board Members to the meeting, reaffirming the Directors' commitment to promoting Sharjah's position as a leading regional and international tourism and business destination. Various topics were then discussed, with the focus being on outlining future plans and strategies, and discussing the eventual effect of the fierce competition for quality services and facilities in the region's tourism sector on Sharjah's tourism and business industries.

Al Noman presented a special report on the Authority's budget for 2010, which included details on its budget and activities for the first three quarters of 2009, as well as its proposed marketing strategies for 2010, including new ideas for enhancing and developing festivals and promotional and marketing campaigns. After the presentation, Board Members discussed SCTDA's budget for 2009 and 2010, and what would be required to promote Sharjah's tourism locally, regionally and internationally.

During the meeting, Al Qassimi noted that "collaborative team work is essential in maintaining and developing Sharjah's tourism sector, and in defining new strategies aimed at promoting the emirate as an international destination for tourism, culture and family activities. The SCTDA has so far been successful in achieving most of our goals to develop Sharjah's tourism and business sectors".

"2009 has been a busy and successful year for the SCTDA, as we have worked hard on targeting local, regional and international tourism markets to cater for the needs of Sharjah's fast-growing tourism industry. The success we have enjoyed motivates us to work even harder to keep up with the latest trends and to establish Sharjah as an international destination for tourism, culture and family activities,"

he added.

Board Members also praised the SCTDA for the numerous awards it has won in 2009, the most recent of which was the 'Most Active Participant' award, which it received at the Leisure Moscow 2009 exhibition, having been chosen from among 1,019 participants from 107 countries.

Also discussed were factors affecting tourism promotion, expanding the SCTDA's participation at international exhibitions and conferences, the launch of campaigns in new markets aimed at attracting tourists into the emirate, and general management of the Authority.

The meeting concluded with recommendations for new plans to be established to promote Sharjah, for SCTDA's participation at various international exhibits to be expanded, and for new promotional campaigns and tourism activities to be developed in the emirate to raise Sharjah's tourism sector to even greater heights.