Al Midfa: Keen to strengthen communication and cooperation with hotel industry in Emirate.
SHARJAH – The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority on Wednesday hosted a special meeting at Hotel Copthorne with representatives of hotel industry and malls and commercial establishments in the Emirate to brief them on the Authority’s plans and agenda for Year 2014, especially its major promotional campaigns and participation in key international tourism exhibitions and road shows around the world.
Speaking on the occasion, HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director General, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority said that the interaction is a new step in the process of cooperation between the Authority and tourism industry partners. It underscores the Authority’s keenness to boost communication and cooperation with the hotel industry in the Emirate in order to reinvigorate the growing tourism sector in the Emirate that has been attracting more than 1.7 million tourists a year and witnessing stable growth. In the first nine months of 2013, the Emirate recorded a 10 per cent increase tourist arrivals in comparison to the same period in the previous year, he emphasised.
Stressing the Authority’s keenness to develop the competencies of tourism and hospitality sector partners through various activities, especially through participation in major international exhibitions and trade forums, Al Midfa said that the presence in international forums like ITB Berlin and WTM London helped showcase and effectively promote Sharjah’s diverse tourism experience in major cities and capitals of the world.
It presents us with opportunities to join hands with global tourism and hospitality sector players and attract more international tourists boosting occupancy rates in the Emirate’s hotel industry, he added.
Al Midfa expressed his satisfaction that Sharjah has had a very successful 2013 and stressed that this success was achieved in cooperation with partners in the tourism and hotel industry. Besides, in its efforts to showcase the tourism sector opportunities at local and global level, the Emirate of Sharjah earned itself a number of international laurels and awards through its participation in major international forums and exhibitions.
He pointed out that the Emirate had recently won the Best Pavilion Award at the Beijing International Travel and Tourism Exhibition besides earning many such awards and recognition throughout the year. This only goes to reaffirm the success of the Emirate and excellence of its continuous participation in international events and trade exhibitions attracting huge number of visitors, he emphasised.
Al Midfa said that Sharjah had entered 2014 on a positive note with a number of achievements and successes to its credit. He pointed out that the Year 2014 is truly special for Sharjah as the Emirate is being celebrated as the Capital of Islamic Culture with a number of special events and activities being lined up to regale the residents and visitors.
This will also attract more international tourists. Sharjah will also see a number of new tourism projects and infrastructure development projects that translate the vision and directives of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, he added.
Thanking the industry partners for their presence, Al Midfa said he looked forward to more such meetings and interactions with them in the future – during events and exhibitions at home and abroad to collectively work for the Emirate’s future.
On this occasion, the Overseas Promotions Department of the Authority made a detailed presentation outlining the vision and objectives of the Authority in general and the agenda for 2014 in particular when Sharjah is celebrating the honour of being chosen the Capital of Islamic Culture by the OIC.
The presentation also focused on the Authority’s participation in major international tourism and trade exhibitions around the world, notably ITB Berlin, WTM London and Arabian Travel Market Dubai, besides special road shows in the capitals of Gulf, Asian and European countries.
This was followed by an open discussion in which queries and details about the 2014 plan and various new projects and events of the Authority in and outside the country were sought by the guests.
On this occasion, it was explained how hotels and other commercial centres could become part of the Authority’s participation in international events and exhibitions. The SCTDA officials emphasised how participation and showcasing of their product in such international forums could help hotels and commercial players attract more international visitors, boost hotel occupancy rates, drive sales and help the Emirate’s economy in general.
It’s worth noting that over the past year, the Authority has organised a number of such meetings and interactions with industry partners in order to strengthen the cooperation and reinvigorate the tourism and hospitality industry in the Emirate. The exercise has been aimed at finding smart solutions and helping this crucial sector to the next level, enhancing the Sharjah’s place on the world tourism map.
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She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
