Sharjah makes bold push for hospitality sector at ATM Dubai

Meanwhile for the third consecutive day, the Sharjah pavilion continued to receive senior officials and leaders from the government and private sector in the region and from around the world.

HE Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Corporation and Sharjah Media Centre, HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Airline and flydubai, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Ports and Customs Department were amongst those visiting the Sharjah stand and being briefed about the latest plans and developments in the emirate's tourism sector.

In this context, HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director General, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, underscored the importance of Sharjah's proactive participation in the ATM exhibition, which will run until 9 May, asserting the emirate's position on the world tourism map and showcasing its distinct tourism experience and future projects.

He said that the remarkable growth in the emirate's tourist numbers and high hotel occupancy exceeding 80% during the first quarter augur well for the tourism industry in the emirate.

Speaking at the exquisite Sharjah pavilion in the ATM 2013 being held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, which has been receiving a regular stream of global travel and tourism industry players and local and regional decision makers, Al Midfa said the first quarter of the year for Sharjah's tourism sector has been very healthy and robust with the hotel industry in the emirate reporting near-full occupancy rates and maintaining the growth of the last year.

"The strong performance during the first quarter promises a positive year for the tourism sector in the emirate. And these encouraging results should inspire the Authority and all stake holders in the tourism and hospitality sector to step up their efforts for further growth," said Al Midfa.

Sharjah released the first quarter tourism statistics for Year 2013 at the ATM Dubai on the opening day of the exhibition posting an 8% jump in hotel occupancy and a 14% increase in hotel room nights during the same period last year. The number of hotel guests in Sharjah in the first quarter stood at 503,985 mark, as compared to 466,218 in the same period last year.

Pointing out to the recent major investments and several upcoming projects in the hotel industry, Al Midfa said that the hospitality sector in Sharjah is set to undergo a major facelift in the next few months and years thanks to continuous investments pouring into the sector and several new facilities like Al Bait Hotel and Hotel Copthorne etc.

"The number of hotel rooms in the emirate is set to go up from over 9,000 to more than 12,000 in the next 3 years," Al Midfa emphasized saying the growing number of international visitors to the emirate calls for an expansion of the hotel industry and there are plenty of opportunities for everyone concerned.

Sharjah has had a busy calendar in the first quarter hosting several international festivals and events such as the Sharjah Light Festival and the Sharjah Government Communication Forum, both held in February, and the much celebrated Sharjah Biennial, which opened in March. The 9-night Sharjah Light Festival attracted thousands of visitors from near and far to the emirate. It's the diversity of such events that is one of the many reasons that tourists are drawn to Sharjah.

The Sharjah delegation to the ATM is headed by the SCTDA and includes Shurooq (Sharjah Investment and Development Authority), Sharjah Airport Authority, Air Arabia, Sharjah Media Centre, Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), Sharjah Museums Department, Sharjah National Hotels, Hotel Radisson Blu, Al Bustan Group of Hotels, Al Hamrah Group of Hotels, Golden Tulip Sharjah, Hilton Hotel Sharjah, Al Khalidiah Tourism and Cozmo Travels.