The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced its participation in the World Travel Market 2022 (WTM), which brings together 51,000 industry professionals from the travel and tourism industry in the British capital from 7-9 November.

Through its participation SCTDA will further its strategic goals of promoting the emirate as a popular travel destination on prestigious global events. The entity is leading a delegation of 17 public and private sector entities, namely, Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), Sharjah International Airport, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF), Expo Centre Sharjah, Sharjah Institute for Heritage, Sharjah Sports Council, Sharjah Old Cars Club, Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA), Sharjah National Hotels, Golden Sands Hotel, The Chedi Al Bait Hotel, Al Badayer Retreat by Mysk, Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa, Coral Beach Resort Sharjah,COSMO Travel, and TravTalk.

These entities will showcase their latest developments across the emirate, including key projects taking shape in key sectors of tourism, leisure, heritage, culture, sports and hospitality, along with the steps they are taking to preserve Sharjah’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. Through their participation, SCTDA will also highlight its new developments and projects, tourism offerings and services, staycation options and hotel establishments across the emirate.

Sharjah’s pavilion at WTM 2022, managed by SCTDA, will serve as a nexus for  potential businesses, investors, travel professionals as well as visitors and tourists in Europe to look into their areas of interest and learn more new and emerging prospects in Sharjah’s vibrant travel and tourism market.

Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said: “Being an international forum to promote new global tourist destinations within the European market, Sharjah’s participation at WTM this year will provide a unique opportunity to consolidate the emirate’s position globally as one of the region’s favourite destinations.”

Sheikha Hoor Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President and Director of Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF), said: “Sharjah Art Foundation is delighted to be part of this year’s World Travel Market alongside Sharjah Tourism. Our participation in such a global tourism event not only underscores our strong commitment to engaging communities through arts and culture, but it also encourages people to discover Sharjah’s rich heritage and our exciting contemporary initiatives. A major part of our mandate is to preserve the historical sites across the city by converting them to spaces intended to cultivate and catalyse cultural and artistic thinking. The Foundation highlights Sharjah’s distinct culture and history and encourages an understanding of the transformational role of art through our year-round exhibitions, performance, music and film programmes, as well as our core initiatives including the long-running Sharjah Biennial and March Meeting.”

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), said: “We are part of the Sharjah showcase at WTM 2022 to contribute to the promotion of Sharjah and its achievements as a leading international tourist destination. One of our key offerings this year is the Sharjah Safari - the largest wildlife safari in the world outside Africa, which hosts more than 120 species in environments similar to the native African terrain, which has added a unique competitive element for tourism in Sharjah.”

Ali Salem Al Midfa, the Chairman of the Sharjah International Airport Authority, said “Our participation in this edition comes in line with the strategies of the Government of Sharjah aiming to attract more investments in the travel and tourism sector, which is key pillar of our national plan for sustainable economic growth as well as a major contributor in strengthening Sharjah’s profile on the global travel and tourism map.”

Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Acting CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said, “Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), is delighted to be part of the Sharjah pavilion at WTM 2022 led by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), which will be turning the world’s attention to the latest developments and unique projects in sectors of leisure, hospitality and tourism, adventure, and culture and heritage that are raising the emirate’s profile as a winning example of a city where businesses, life and the environment live in perfect harmony with each other.”

Essa Hilal Al Hazzami, Chairman of Sharjah Sports Council, noted that this participation is an opportunity for the Council to highlight how sports play a major role in highlighting the potential of the country.

Historically and geographically diverse, reflecting its civilisation and city, he said that hosting major tournaments and world events and coming into direct contact with UAE guests offers a direct and powerful message to all, whose impact is stronger than traditional advertising messages.