UAE: Sharjah Hotels Welcome More Russian Guests In H1 2017

Sharjah’s hotel sector saw a 94 percent increase in the number of Russian guests during the first half of 2017, according to Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA).

Sharjah hotels reported a total of 106,693 Russian guests staying during the first six month of the year, compared to 54,017 guests during same period in 2016.

The increase is a welcome sign of a recovery for, what has traditionally been, one of Sharjah’s key tourism markets.

The emirate’s tourism market was hard hit by the decline of Russia’s outbound tourism in 2014/2015, due to the steepest drop in value of the Russian currency in 16 years.

Global outbound tourism from Russia fell by 15 percent in 2014, by almost 20 percent in 2015 and by 8 percent last year.

Meanwhile, Sharjah, which received 400,000 Russian hotel guests during 2014, saw the numbers of Russian hotel guests drop to 54,000 in 2015.

Confirmation of the 2016 Russian tourist numbers were revealed by SCTDA at the 23rd Leisure Moscow Fair, which took place from 19-21 September.

Russian guests accounted for 446,437 room nights in Sharjah hotels for the first half of the year, showing a 103 percent increase versus 220,396 room nights booked during the same period in 2016.

The results from the first half of this year now confirm Russia’s position as of Sharjah’s top two fasted growing inbound tourism markets.

China has, so far, proved to be the emirate’s most consistent growth market increasing from nearly 31,000 in H1 2015 to 49,000 in H1 2016 and reaching 62,000 during the first half of this year.

According to SCTDA statements, Sharjah’s hotels enjoyed a 70 percent occupancy rate from January to June this year and registered a total of 885,000 hotel guests during the period.

China, India, Oman, Russia and Saudi Arabia were the biggest inbound tourism markets for Sharjah during the first half of 2017.

Sharjah currently boasts more than 100 hotels and hotel apartments, including properties managed by some of the leading hotel groups in the world including Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Louvre Hotels Group, Premier Inn Hotels, Rotana Hotels and Resorts, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, and Wyndham Worldwide.

Some 500 new 4- and 5-star hotel rooms and suites are expected to be made available by the end of 2017, with a further 1,000 four- and five-star rooms and suites being added by the end of 2020.


Tourism Observer

UAE: Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority Launches ‘Sharjah Summer’ With 50% Discounts

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has launched ‘Sharjah Summer’, a two-month campaign aiming to drive entertainment, leisure, retail and tourism sales, underpinned by discounts of up to 50 percent.

It is the emirate’s first summer campaign that integrates offers from airlines, hotels, government institutions, travel agencies, shopping centres and other private sector companies.

So far, about 30 public and private sector organisations have joined the campaign, which offers visitors entertainment, events, special hotel packages and retail promotions.

In recent years, Sharjah has successfully positioned itself as a family tourism destination, a international cultural hub and an Islamic cultural centre.

Sharjah was named the Islamic Culture Capital for 2014, the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2015 and has just been named UNESCO World Book Capital for 2019.

The tourism authority expects ‘Sharjah Summer’ appeal strongly to regional markets as families consider summer travel plans and short breaks.

The hot summer months are typically less busy for the Gulf’s inbound travel and tourism sector, but nevertheless provide opportunities including local tourism, regional tourism and international travel stopovers.

Last summer, Sharjah International Airport saw a 13 percent increase in July, August and September, handling 2,996,433 passengers compared to the previous year.

Both the airport and Sharjah-headquartered budget airline Air Arabia are taking part in this year’s summer campaign.

‘Sharjah Summer’ has enlisted a variety of 4 and 5 star hotels and resorts in Sharjah city and on the emirate’s east coast, including Al Majaz Hotel, Hilton Sharjah, Hotel Holiday International, Marbella Resort Sharjah, Oceanic Khor Fakkan Resort and Spa, Radisson Blu Resort, Royal Beach Resort and Spa, Royal Tulip 72 Hotel, Royal Tulip The Act Hotel, Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort and Spa, and Swiss-Belhotel Sharjah.

Public sector organisations taking part in ‘Sharjah Summer’ include the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sharjah Museums Department, Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), Sharjah Art Foundation, Sajaya Young Ladies of Sharjah, and Sharjah Women Sports Foundation.

‘Sharjah Summer’ also enjoys the support of travel and tourism agencies SATA, Cozmo Travel, Orient Tours and Breeze Tours. Mega Mall and Sharjah’s largest shopping mall, Sahara Center, are participating as retail partners in the campaign.

The ‘Sharjah Summer’ campaign runs until Friday, 8 September 2017.


Tourism Observer
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UAE: Room Nights Hike To 19% In Sharjah Hotels

Sharjah hotels and hotel apartments registered a 19 percent increase in room nights booked during the first nine months of 2016, totalling 2.94 million room nights, according to Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). The increase in total booked room nights comes in spite of the fact that occupancy rates have remained flat at 62 percent, suggesting that visitors may be remaining in Sharjah for longer stays.

Although the largest number of guests registered in Sharjah hotels are from the GCC states (360,000 Gulf nationals visiting during the first nine months of the year), the tourism authority’s international marketing seems to be paying off, with increases reported from several key markets. The SCTDA has been targeting markets identified as having high potential for growth in its strategic marketing plan, in order to attract 10 million tourist per annum by 2021.

According to SCTDA figures, China is now Sharjah’s fastest growing tourism market with 62,936 Chinese travelers visiting the emirate during the first nine months of this year: 75 percent increase compared with the equivalent period of 2015. This growth is consistent with the 78 percent increase in Chinese hotel guests registered during 2015. The SCDTA has recently stepped up marketing efforts in China, opening up a representative office, recruiting Chinese staff and adding a Chinese language website to Sharjah’s tourism portal.

Meanwhile, Sharjah saw a 12 percent growth in the number of Pakistani visitors and an 8.7 percent increase in visitors from Russia, being the first growth measured from the Russian market since the Russian currency fell in 2014.

Sharjah offers more than 100 hotels and hotel apartments, including properties managed by some of the leading five star hotel brands in the world. A wide range of new developments are currently underway, including the construction of a new US$100 million (AED 367m) art and culture themed 5-star luxury beachfront hotel and resort managed by global hotel operator Accor; a 4-star, 200 room Novotel located adjacent to Sharjah Expo; a 4-star Four Points hotel; and an Aloft boutique hotel. Last week, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) announced that the construction for its new 5-star hotel in the Heart of Sharjah – Al Bait Hotel – is now 50 percent completed.

According to Sharjah International Airport, 8.3 million passengers were handled by the airport during the first nine months of 2016.

UAE: Sharjah Hotels Register 19% Increase In Room Nights

Sharjah hotels and hotel apartments registered a 19 percent increase in room nights booked during the first nine months of 2016, totalling 2.94 million room nights, according to Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). The increase in total booked room nights comes in spite of the fact that occupancy rates have remained flat at 62 percent, suggesting that visitors may be remaining in Sharjah for longer stays.

Although the largest number of guests registered in Sharjah hotels are from the GCC states (360,000 Gulf nationals visiting during the first nine months of the year), the tourism authority’s international marketing seems to be paying off, with increases reported from several key markets. The SCTDA has been targeting markets identified as having high potential for growth in its strategic marketing plan, in order to attract 10 million tourist per annum by 2021.

According to SCTDA figures, China is now Sharjah’s fastest growing tourism market with 62,936 Chinese travelers visiting the emirate during the first nine months of this year: 75 percent increase compared with the equivalent period of 2015. This growth is consistent with the 78 percent increase in Chinese hotel guests registered during 2015. The SCDTA has recently stepped up marketing efforts in China, opening up a representative office, recruiting Chinese staff and adding a Chinese language website to Sharjah’s tourism portal.

Meanwhile, Sharjah saw a 12 percent growth in the number of Pakistani visitors and an 8.7 percent increase in visitors from Russia, being the first growth measured from the Russian market since the Russian currency fell in 2014.

Sharjah offers more than 100 hotels and hotel apartments, including properties managed by some of the leading five star hotel brands in the world. A wide range of new developments are currently underway, including the construction of a new US$100 million (AED 367m) art and culture themed 5-star luxury beachfront hotel and resort managed by global hotel operator Accor; a 4-star, 200 room Novotel located adjacent to Sharjah Expo; a 4-star Four Points hotel; and an Aloft boutique hotel. Last week, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) announced that the construction for its new 5-star hotel in the Heart of Sharjah – Al Bait Hotel – is now 50 percent completed.

According to Sharjah International Airport, 8.3 million passengers were handled by the airport during the first nine months of 2016.