Sharjah’s tourism sector has experienced notable growth in the first eight months of 2024, with hotel guest numbers increasing by 3.07 per cent to reach 1.057 million, up from 1.025 million during the same period last year, while hotel occupancy rates remained steady at 66 per cent.

The latest statistics was revealed during the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority’s (SCTDA) annual ‘Connected Meeting’ held Thursday at the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park, in the presence of Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, along with key industry partners from both the public and private sectors.

The January - August 2024 performance results also revealed Russia as the leading source market for Sharjah, accounting for 21 per cent of the market share with approximately 160,000 hotel guests. Following closely are the UAE at 11 per cent, India at 10 per cent, and Oman at 6 per cent.

During the meeting, the authority showcased the latest advancements in Sharjah’s tourism sector, and its ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of tourism services and enrich visitor experiences.

The meeting also spotlighted new tourist destinations and the emirate’s marine transport services, while outlining future ambitions for the sector with a focus on bolstering strategic partnerships locally and internationally.

Key initiatives include launching collaborative marketing campaigns targeting emerging markets, the strategic use of AI solutions, and implementing advanced digital platforms to expand audience reach. In addition, the Authority is dedicated to curating engaging events and experiences, and forging partnerships with shopping centres and retail outlets to achieve sustainable growth within Sharjah’s tourism sector.

The announcement coincides with World Tourism Day on September 27, providing a key opportunity to emphasise tourism’s vital role in driving economic, social, cultural, and environmental development. Marking the occasion, SCDTA reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the sector in line with best practices, ensuring sustainability and further strengthening Sharjah’s status as a preferred tourism destination.

In his keynote address, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the SCTDA, emphasised the critical role of public-private partnerships in achieving the emirate’s sustainable development goals. He noted that this annual event exemplifies the successful collaboration among various stakeholders in the tourism industry, reflecting the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to cement the tourism sector as a fundamental pillar of the national economy.

“Sharjah has ambitious plans to further enhance the tourism sector, which already contributes over 11% to the UAE’s non-oil GDP. The emirate’s efforts include major infrastructure investments, the expansion of Sharjah International Airport, and the organisation of year-round tourism events and activities. By strengthening collaboration among all tourism stakeholders, we aim to consistently elevate service quality and bolster Sharjah’s status as a premier global tourist destination,” said Al Midfa.

During the meeting, SCTDA also discussed its “Business Continuity Management System,” designed to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential services to the public, even in emergencies or crises. This system, aligned with the National Standard For Business Continuity Management System, aims to strengthen institutional resilience and ensure a swift recovery from potential disruptions. It includes clear incident management plans, precautionary measures to safeguard human resources and infrastructure, and effective communication mechanisms with all relevant partners.

Meanwhile the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is ramping up efforts to attract high-end travellers from India by promoting a range of ‘niche’ properties that offer authentic, immersive and diverse experiences in the emirate.

As part of its efforts, SCTDA organised a series of roadshows earlier in September in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai from Sept.5 to 9 to create awareness about these unique properties among travel trade partners.

Some of these properties include The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah – a GHM hotel, Al Faya Retreat by Sharjah Collection and Kingfisher Retreat by Sharjah Collection.

“Brands like Sheraton, Pullman and DoubleTree by Hilton have already established a presence in Sharjah. We now have a strong portfolio of niche properties that offer unique experiences to visitors which we want to promote in India,” said Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of SCTDA, during a media briefing at the New Delhi roadshow. He further announced that two additional luxury properties, Lux*Al Jabal and Lux* Al-Bridi, are expected to become operational in the near future.