The Emirate of Sharjah's participation in the Arabian Travel Market Exhibition has successful start

Currently being held from the 2nd to the 5th of May at the Dubai World Trade Center and featuring exhibitors from more than 47 countries, the Sharjah stand on the opening day attracted a high amount of visitors including a selection of very highly renowned personalities and VIPs, all of whom showed keen interest in what the Emirate has to offer.

The ATM was also attended on the opening day by H.E Sheikh Tariq Bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), in addition to senior representatives from SCTDA, Hanoo Holding (Nujoom Islands), Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA), Sharjah National Hotels ( Marbella resort / Holiday International / Oceanic Hotel KF), MH Group ( Carlton Hotel / Nova Park / Beach Hotel), Radisson SAS Resort, Millennium Hotel, Embassy Suites, Spark Residence, Tropic International Tours, Khalidiah Tourism, and Qanat Al Qasbah.

The Emirate's participation this year comes after the success they achieved in last years involvement, where their stand attracted many visitors specializing in the tourism sector from different countries.

SCTDA's involvement in this year's exhibition includes a unique stand with a design highlighting the heritage of the Emirate. The presentation covers an area of 300 square meters, (a 20% increase on last year's size) and features a unique display highlighting the beauty of the Emirate, including the Sharjah Art museum. As usual the authority has made sure to provide accurate information about the Emirate of Sharjah in both Arabic and English for the benefit of the visitors.

Enhancing the Emirate of Sharjah as a world class destination on the international tourism map has in recent years become the main concern for the SCTDA. With this in mind, the department has undertaken many activities that are now beginning to garner much local, regional and international interest. The SCTDA's participation in previous exhibitions has to date benefited the Emirate significantly through establishing them as an attractive and alternative destination to what may usually be considered; thus encouraging the department's care behind making another successful appearance at this years ATM.

The director of the SCTDA, Mr. Mohamed Al Noman, ensured the importance of participating in the Arabian Travel Market Exhibition's, which is considered the biggest annual event specialized in the travel and tourism industry in the Middle East, by saying:

"ATM will no doubt provide for us through our participation in it for the 9th time an important promotional stand that will help market the tourism products that the Emirate of Sharjah is known for, in order to boost its position on the world tourism map."

He added: "All the people concerned in promoting the tourism of the Emirate of Sharjah are working today as one team in order to show the beauty of the Emirate as a tourism destination. Our participation in this year's exhibition comes as evidence of our goal to maintain a continuous presence in all of the local, regional, and international exhibitions."

Speaking of the importance of the representative's participation, Noman said: "Our international participation in different countries brought many benefits to the tourism sector in Sharjah and this was clear in the increase of the number of travelers we received. Through its various participations in different exhibitions, the Emirate of Sharjah was able to book for itself a good position on an assortment of international paths. We at the SCTDA are working to enhance this position locally and internationally, where our strategy is to afford the demand of the Sharjah tourism sector in the first place, which will eventually enable the overall growth of the tourism sector in general."