World Media Evinces Keen Interest In Sharjah’s Heritage, Tourism

SCTDA Wraps Up A Successful Wtm Participation; Reaches Out To A Large Number Of Visitors, Decision Makers

International media covering the World Travel Market 2012 evinced keen interest in Sharjah with many of their representatives visiting the emirate’s pavilion and those of its partners at the high-profile exhibition and networking event that was successfully wrapped up in the British capital today (Thursday).

Some of the prominent international publications whose representatives visited Sharjah’s stand at Ex-Cel London and expressed keenness to discover and know more about its tourism market, heritage and festivals included National Geographic Traveller, Rupert Murdoch’s Sky TV, Unravel TV, Travel Trade Weekly and Britain’s Breaking Travel News, which happens to be the leading online resource centre for the global travel and tourism industry. National Geographic released a special 24-page supplement on Sharjah at the exhibition on Wednesday.

HE Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, said: “During the past few months and years, there has been increasing international media interest in Sharjah and the rather different touristic experience it offers to global tourists who are so used to hearing about the Middle East’s luxurious hotels, malls and other amusement avenues. Although Sharjah has everything that is offered by other popular destinations in the region, it brings the discerning visitors more than shopping and luxury. It offers them a genuine Arabian hospitality experience thanks to its 22 museums, cultural centres and art galleries etc.”

The SCTDA Chairman, who has been interviewed by National Geographic Traveler and other respectable names in the world media during the London exhibition, said it’s gratifying to see the world media focus on Sharjah, in the wake of the Council of Arab Tourism Ministers in Cairo declaring the emirate the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2015.

“This is thanks to all our collective efforts all these years under the constant guidance and leadership of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah,” he added. “This is just the beginning. We have more work to do and many more milestones to cross in months and years ahead.”

The SCTDA Chairman said that with several ambitious tourism and development projects being launched during the past few months and more hotels being added to Sharjah’s hospitality sector, the tourism sector in the emirate was headed for exciting times and interesting possibilities.

During the 4-day exhibition the emirate’s pavilion and those of its other participating outlets received a continuous inflow of dignitaries, delegates and ordinary visitors who were fascinated by the Emirati culture and heritage and various facets of Sharjah’s tourism market showcased at the stand.

The SCTDA headed a delegation of government departments and private sector players as part of its efforts to promote Sharjah around the world and boost the tourism industry in the emirate. The emirate’s WTM stand distributed thousands of copies of popular publications like Discover Sharjah and Sharjah: My Destination and other literature published by the Authority offering a peek into the cultural and heritage capital of the Arab and Islamic world.

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