UAE: Sharjah Introduces New Hotel Classification System

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has introduced a new hotel classification system in an effort to improve quality standards, offer consumers more choice and so to help boost overall tourism industry growth. The new classification updates the criteria introduced in 2008, which falls under the Sharjah Hotel Classification and Licensing Law.

According to HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, SCTDA Director General, the introduction of the new hotel classification system was timely, since Sharjah has a number of new hotels and tourism projects planned. The SCTDA expects 30 new hotels to open in the emirate over the next three years adding some 4,000 new hotel rooms to Sharjah’s existing capacity of 10,000 hotel rooms. The new hotel classification criteria were developed in close consultation with the emirate’s hotel sector.

Sharjah’s tourism industry has undergone strong growth during the past year and the SCTDA expects two million tourists to visit Sharjah by the end of 2014. More than one million tourists (1,099,877) were already registered visiting the emirate during the first six months of the year, showing a 15 percent increase in numbers compared with 2013.

Sharjah hotels had an average of 74 percent occupancy rate during the first six months of 2014, while resort hotels enjoyed a higher 80 percent average occupancy during the same period. The total number of hotel guest nights in the first half of 2014 was 1,817,416 compared with 1,753,866 during the same period last year.

The emirate currently has 50 hotels and 56 hotel apartments. With global brands such as Hilton and Radisson already represented, there are a number of new 4-star, 5-star hotel and resort property projects are already in progress. Starwood Hotels & Resorts will open a 5-star Sheraton and a 4-star Four Points hotel in 2015, whilst Accor is expected to open a new 4-star 200 room Novotel Sharjah Expo by the first quarter of 2017.

Sharjah’s tourism industry has benefited from being named Islamic Culture Capital for 2014 and growth is expected to continue into 2015, which will be Sharjah’s year as the Capital of Arab Tourism.

UAE: Sharjah’s Tourism Showcase At WTM

HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of SCTDA

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) will soon be attending the forthcoming World Travel Market 2015.

The tourism authority will promote latest developments in the emirate as well as projects and initiatives launched by SCTDA during the current year.

The Sharjah delegation will be led by HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of SCTDA along with representatives from Sharjah Airport Authority, Shurooq, EPAA, Sharjah Museums, Sharjah Healthcare Authority, Sheraton Sharjah, Ramada, Al Shaab Village, Hotel Holiday International, Marbella Resort, Oceanic Hotel, Copthorne Hotel, and Sharjah Airport Travel Agency.

“SCTDA is keen to tap huge potential offered by this major global event to meet with key players in the travel and tourism industry and discuss latest developments in the sector. We are also looking forward to exploring possibilities of new cooperation and partnerships,” said HE Al Midfa.

Sharjah’s participation will enable the emirate to showcase its latest projects and events launched under the Sharjah Tourism Vision that aims to attract 10 million tourists to the emirate. He pointed out that SCTDA will also promote business and trade opportunities to investors from all over the world and showcase prominent events and festivals.

“Cruise tourism is another focal area in view. The emirate attracted 35 international cruise calls carrying about 80,000 visitors during the 2014-15 cruise season. We expect this sector to experience significant growth in the coming years,” said HE Al Midfa.

Europe is one of the most important tourism markets for Sharjah with the emirate’s hotels receiving 663,000 guests from the continent in 2014, accounting for 32% of the total hotel guests.