Sharjah tourism sector continues growth with 86% hotel occupancy in 2005

The report showed that the tourism sector in Sharjah continued to grow and develop through 2005, with the number of hotel occupants rising by 10% to touch 688,299 guests during 2005, compared to 622,133 occupants in the year 2004.

Similarly, the hotel nights witnessed a distinct increment of 5% in occupancy, with 822,004 nights registered till end December 2005, in comparison to 796,209 nights within the same period of 2004. This remarkable increase has been influenced by the 94% occupancy rate seen within Sharjah's large hotels. Overall, the total percentage of hotel occupancy in Sharjah reached 86% in 2005, as compared to 79% within the same period in 2004. With high level of occupancy across the Emirate, there definitely is a growing requirement for quality hotel rooms within Sharjah.

Commenting on the statistical findings of the report, Mr. Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Director of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourist Development Authority, stressed that the visible rise in hotel occupancy rates within Sharjah is a clear outcome of the increase in tourist influx into the Emirate, which has established a strong identity on the global tourist map.

"The commendable efforts put forth by the Commerce and Tourism Development Authority focus on a well-defined strategy based on targeting key markets and promoting tourism-related business activities for the development of tourism in Sharjah. Through participating in international tourist and commerce exhibitions, organizing promotional tours, road shows and other marketing activities around the year, we have been able to witness a spike in activity within the tourist sector," said Al Noman.

Speaking on the Sharjah Commerce and Tourist Development Authority in 2005, Al Noman further said: "The last year definitely saw a marked increase in activity within the Authority, which intensively targeted the local, regional and international markets to meet the growing requirements in the Sharjah tourism market. With enormous growth across the Emirate, we continue to be motivated to input more efforts to deliver and keep pace with Sharjah's transformation in to a unique tourist, cultural and family destination."

"Following successful participation in a number of international projects, exhibitions and conferences in the previous year, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority looks forward to a number of key participations this year too. Through such activity, we aim to benchmark Sharjah as a truly international tourist destination," Al-Noman concluded.