JEDDAH, 7 June 2005 — Sharjah claims to account for 33 percent of the flow of tourists to the GCC states. “Factors contributing to Sharjah’s growing popularity as a tourist destination are its culture, beaches and sporting attractions, all in a family-friendly, culturally sensitive environment, aside from its mountains and desert” Mohamed A. Al-Noman, director of Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), said at a road show hosted at Le Jeddah Meridien Hotel last night.

With more than 60 hotels and apartments, and 60 travel agencies, Sharjah’s tourism sector is expected to be more effective in attracting visitors, said Al-Noman who headed a delegation consisting of senior representatives from the emirate’s government departments and travel industry.

“In cooperation with Air Arabia, Sharjah hotels and Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA), we offer very attractive summer holiday packages,” Al-Noman said. Packages include air tickets on Air Arabia, accommodation in starred hotels, visa processing and airport transfers, and an optional city tour.

“The emirate, which is the only one in the UAE to have land alongside the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean coastlines, has always positioned itself as a cultural heritage tourist destination, with a portfolio of leisure pursuits designed for the wholly family,” Al-Noman said.

For many tourists, the emirate represents an ideal getaway, combining beach shopping and culture, he emphasized.

Sharjah has many facilities to offer, from the state-of-the-art museums to the Formula 1 Powerboat, as well as cricket, water sports and nature reserves. “We’ve recently seen a boom in shopping malls, with plenty of international designer names available under one roof in different malls, as well as in the traditional souks. Those interested in leisure sports can visit Khor Fakkan on the east coast of the UAE, on the Indian Ocean, which is one of the world’s leading dive sites, or explore the Hajar mountains.

The road show, which was part of its GCC tour, aimed to highlight the latest developments in the emirate’s tourism sector, encouraging more GCC tourism flow to Sharjah and promoting summer holiday packages.

“Last year, we set the target on achieving a 15 percent growth in our tourism sector. More than 1.2 million hotel guests meant that we had a 26 percent increase in the number of guests in 2004 over 2003.

“This is very encouraging for us to continue with our regional tourism development strategy,” Al-Noman said.