UAE; Sharjah Hotel Revenues Grow By 7%

The Emirate of Sharjah registered a 7 percent increase in hotel revenues, reaching AED 378 million (USD 103m) during the first six months of 2016, according to the latest figures from Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). The authority has been targeting markets identified in its strategic marketing plan and says that H1 2016 hotel statistics show a 19 percent increase from those markets, compared with H1 2015. The SCTDA announced its Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021 tourism development strategy in 2015, which aims to attract more than 10 million tourists to the emirate by year 2021.

A total of 878,006 visitors booked accommodation in Sharjah during the first half of 2016, compared with about one million visitors registered during the first half of 2015. Sharjah guests stayed a total number of 1.99 million hotel nights from 1st January to 30th June 2016

China is now Sharjah’s fastest growing tourism market. 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. The emirate saw a 78 percent increase in Chinese visitors during 2015 and, this year, has seen a 73.2 percent increase in Chinese tourist numbers during the first six months.

Overall, the largest numbers of visitors during the first six months of this year came from the GCC which accounted for nearly 220,000 hotel guests or about 25 percent of the total. Asia provided the second largest source of tourists, showing a 12 percent increase compared to H1 2015. Meanwhile, 180,768 registered Sharjah hotel guests came from Europe, accounting for about 21 percent of the total.

Visitor numbers from Russia have decreased in recent years due to the deterioration in the strength of the Russian Ruble, which significantly reduced the number of Russian tourists visiting Europe and the Middle East. However, this year, there is room for some optimism, following a 1.8 percent increase in number of Russian visitors during H1 2016.

New flight routes to Pakistan also had a positive effect on numbers of visiting Sharjah, leading to a 10.3 percent increase to in Pakistani hotel guests. Meanwhile, there was a two percent increase in the number of African tourists visiting the emirate.

The SCTDA has been marketing Sharjah’s proposition for tourists in key markets around the world and has targeted different inbound tourist segments with specific campaigns and offers. The authority opened representative offices in several international markets this year to increase in-country marketing effectiveness.

Sharjah has invested heavily in developing itself as an international cultural hub, showcasing its heritage and creating world class museums and other cultural, educational and Islamic resources. The emirate currently offers more than 100 hotels and hotel apartments, including properties managed by some of the leading five star hotel brands in the world.

UAE: Visitor Guide To Engage Sharjah Tourists

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced a new initiative to promote Sharjah’s tourist attractions and services via hotels and hotel apartments in the emirate. The SCTDA is installing interactive touch-screen information terminals in all five- and four-star hotels as well as luxury hotel apartments in an effort to engage visiting tourists.

The new initiative falls under the SCTDA’s Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021 strategy that aims to attract 10 million tourists by 2021. The four pillars of Vision 2021 are promoting Sharjah as an Ideal Family Tourism Destination; developing an Innovative Tourism Approach; offering World Class Tourism Facilities and Capabilities; and Continuing to develop Sharjah’s status as an International Cultural Hub.

According to the SCTDA interactive information terminals will eventually be deployed to all hotels, tourist attractions, airport, shopping malls, museums and government departments in the emirate to help enhance Sharjah’s visitor experience. In addition to reducing the need for printed brochures, the new interactive information terminals will allow tourists and visitors to access comprehensive content about Sharjah allowing them to discover services, facilities and attractions that they may have otherwise missed.

The new interactive service focuses on highlighting Sharjah’s cultural attractions, but also offers information on a wide range of local services from education institutions to business and investment opportunities.

Sharjah’s tourism sector experienced strong growth in 2014, benefiting from the emirate’s status as Islamic Culture Capital for 2014, with more than two million guests checking into Sharjah hotels. The tourism sector is also expected to perform well in 2015, as Sharjah enjoys its year as the ‘Capital of Arab Tourism for 2015’. There are now more than 100 hotels in Sharjah offering 10,000 hotel rooms, including 50 hotels and 56 hotel apartments, with a number of new hotels and resorts currently under development.

UAE: Sharjah Targets 10 Million Tourists By 2021

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) today announced Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, a tourism development strategy that aims to attract more than 10 million tourists to the emirate by year 2021.

The SCTDA’s strategic plan, which follows an indepth study of Sharjah’s tourism market, proposition for tourists and opportunities in the sector, is built on four key pillars.

– The first pillar, entails promoting Sharjah as an Ideal Family Tourism Destination by offering distinct packages and offers specially designed for families.

– An Innovative Tourism Approach is core to the second pillar, improving the tourist experience through the provision of innovative solutions.

– World Class Tourism Facilities and Capabilities to enhance efficiencies in tourism sector through partnership and collaborative action constitute the third pillar.

– Continuing to develop Sharjah’s status as an International Cultural Hub will be the fourth pillar, which also resonates well with Sharjah’s family tourism objectives.

The tourism sector experienced strong growth in 2014, benefiting from the emirate’s status as Islamic Culture Capital for 2014, with more than two million guests checking into Sharjah hotels. The tourism sector is also expected to perform well in 2015, as Sharjah enjoys its year as Arab Tourism Capital.

The Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021 strategy was presented by H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Noman, Chairman of SCTDA and H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director General of SCTDA to key players in tourism, travel and hospitality sectors and the media.

The SCTDA was established in 1996 by Emiri Decree No. 5, with the objective of promoting commercial and tourism activities in the Emirate of Sharjah.

UAE: Sharjah Hotels Register One Million Guests In H1

Sharjah hotels and resorts registered one million guests during the first half of 2015, according to the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), consistent with last year’s statistics. Last year saw approximately two million tourists visit Sharjah throughout the year and the emirate aims to attract 10 million tourist per year by 2021.

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 number of new hotels and resorts are currently under development, including 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; an Aloft boutique hotel; and the 349 room Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa opening in September. Meanwhile, The Chedi Khor Fakkan mountainside luxury villa resort, a Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) project is also under construction.

Sharjah’s largest sources of tourists are visitors from Europe and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) states, together accounting for more than 70 percent of tourist visitors during the first half of last year.

The SCTDA recently announced Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, a tourism development strategy that aims to develop Sharjah’s proposition for tourists and target different inbound tourist segments with specific campaigns and offers. Sharjah has invested heavily in developing itself as an international cultural hub showcasing its heritage and creating world class museums and other cultural, educational and Islamic resources.

Sharjah is currently enjoying its year as the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2015, putting the local tourism industry under the spotlight, while last year tourism enjoyed a boost as a result of Sharjah being voted the Islamic Culture Capital for 2014.

According to the SCTDA, the tourism sector accounts for 8.5 percent of Sharjah’s economy.