GCC visitors give Sharjah vote of confidence

Following the success of June’s GCC roadshow, where the government of Sharjah exceeded its target of 5 per cent increase in in-bound tourism, tourism leaders are going back on the road to stimulate further business growth.

The Sharjah Commerce Tourism and Development Authority (SCTDA) is sending its senior management on a second regional roadshow this month to highlight the emirate’s appeal as a tourist destination.

The management will be accompanied by representatives from the government of Sharjah, as well as Sharjah International Airport and the leading five hotels in the emirate.

The move comes six months after the initial roadshow, and at a time when travel within Arabia is a preferred option for many GCC residents.

Mohamed A. Al Noman, director of SCTDA. He said: “Travel to Europe and the USA is not as appealing as it has been in the past – not least because the dollar is so weak. As a result, many GCC residents are choosing to restrict their travel to within Arabia, which gives us an increased potential market.

“Sharjah has plenty to offer visitors from Arabia and further afield. We have everything from culture, to beaches, to sporting attractions – all in a family-friendly, culturally-sensitive environment.”

Al Noman believes the showcase should be viewed as a strident move towards developing the tourism industry in Sharjah, and the fact that it is wholly government-financed means there is one clear end goal in sight.

He said: “The purpose of the roadshow is to build awareness of Sharjah’s unique offering to tour operators around the region – a tool that worked to great effect six months ago with a 15 per cent increase in summer business.

“We believe that a focused marketing drive continues to be the way forward for a niche product like Sharjah, and I fully expect to be reporting similar growth over the next six months.”

 The roadshow opens in Bahrain, before covering Al Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh.

SCTDA will be joined by: Coral Beach Resort; Millennium Hotel, Sharjah; Radisson SAS Resort; Sharjah Airport Travel Agency; Sharjah International Airport; and Sharjah National Hotels.