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Sharjah Keen To Tap Immense Potential Of Luxury Cruise Tourism Sector: Al Midfa |
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The Sharjah Commerce and tourism Authortiy is keen to tap into the immense potential of the international luxury cruise tourism in the emirate. Buoyed by the recent surge in arrivals of international luxury cruiseliners with thousands of passengers onboard in Khorfakkan, the deep water port on the East Coast, the emirate is taking bold steps to make the most of the opportunity in the interest of the tourism sector and the economy. As part of the initiative, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority today launched a 6-day special training and orientation course for senior officials and decision makers of the Sharjah government departments on the importance of the cruise industry for the emirate. The course was formally opened today by SCTDA Director General HE Khalid Jassim al Midfa at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In view of the phenomenal growth of cruise tourism in the past few years in the emirate, the course entitled, Cruise Tourism: Opportunities and Challenges, seeks to raise awareness about the role and importance of cruise tourism industry for the region in general and Sharjah in particular. Within this context, Al Midfa said in his opening remarks, close coordination and cooperation among all stakeholders and a clear understanding of the issues of the industry becomes vital and imperative. Senior officials representing various Sharjah government departments including Department of Seaports and Customs, General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs, Department of Culture and Information, Sharjah Transport Corporation, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Sharjah Museums Department are taking part in the training and orientation course. This is the first time that such an industry overview about cruise tourism and its potential and opportunities is being offered to government entities. The trainer is a cruise industry expert who has been the director of many cruise ships in the past and currently is the sole training provider for major cruise liners like AIDA and Costa Crociere. |
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