More Than 1.56m Tourists Visited Sharjah Last Year

Number Of Hotel Rooms To Touch 12,000 In 4 Years: Al Noman

Sharjah continues to draw international visitors. Hotels in the emirate recorded 1,562,869 guests during the Year 2011 as against 1,562,869 arrivals during 2010, according to statistics released by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority during the ongoing International Tourism Bourse in the German capital Berlin.

The SCTDA statistics for Year 2011 show an increase in the occupancy rate of the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments. The hotel occupancy rate in the emirate over the past year stood at 76 per cent. Sharjah’s hotels received 843,676 guests in 2011 whereas they had recorded 774,651guests in 2010. Hotel apartments received 719,193 guests in 2011 whereas they recorded had 782,234 guests the year before.

Hotel apartments recorded 71 per cent occupancy last year compared to 70 per cent in 2010. The overall occupancy of hotels and hotel apartments in the emirate has been put at 74 pc in 2011.

The total number of room nights in Sharjah’s hotels and hotel apartments rose to 1,804,530 in 2011, with hotel room nights accounting for 1,026,934 and hotel apartment room nights accounting for 777,596.

This can be compared to 1,537,765 room nights in 2010 with 806,401 hotel rooms and 731,364 hotel apartment rooms, a 17 per cent increase from 2010.

The number of hotels and hotel apartments in the emirate stood at 104 during 2011 (47 Hotels and 57 hotel apartments). The total number of hotel and hotel apartment rooms reached 9,123 (5,191 hotel rooms and 3,932 hotel apartment rooms) recording a 6 per cent increase.

Commenting on the statistics, SCTDA Chairman HE Mohamed Ali Al Noman said that the positive outlook shows that the strategy and efforts to promote the unique character and features of Sharjah’s touristic product are working and showing results. “Our objective is to put the emirate in the league of the world’s top and most popular tourism destinations and double the number of tourists visiting the emirate annually,” he said.

The SCTDA Chairman said that Sharjah was working to attract more tourism investments in the emirate and expects to increase the number of hotel rooms in the emirate to go up to 12,000 over the next four years, with a focus on 5 star and 3 star hotels and beach resorts. “We will ensure complete cooperation with all government and private agencies to ensure investment environment is safe and things go off smoothly and swiftly for everyone concerned,” he emphasized.

Al Noman said that the SCTDA is sparing no effort to develop the tourism and commerce sectors in the emirate, he emphasised adding the Authority has over the past few years made numerous strong and distinguished appearances at high-profile international exhibitions and events like the ITB Berlin to showcase Sharjah.

Besides, the world-class festivals and events like the Sharjah Water Festival and Sharjah Light Festival hosted by the emirate all through the year strengthen Sharjah’s position as an international family tourism destination, he said adding, “Sharjah offers a truly diverse and different and culturally rich tourism experience to international travellers in a peaceful, friendly and secure environment.”

Referring to the upcoming KhorFakkan powerboat championship later this month, he said that the Authority was looking to hold more such events along the scenic East Coast of the emirate.

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