The government of Sharjah is targeting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in a focused roadshow during June to highlight the emirate’s appeal as a tourist destination and to stimulate regional in-bound tourism to the emirate over the summer months.
The roadshow, organized by Sharjah Commerce Tourism and Development Authority (SCTDA), will feature the government of Sharjah, as well as Sharjah International Airport and the leading five hotels in the emirate.
The bullish move comes at a time when the GCC market is a captive audience, according to Mohamed Al-Noman, director of SCTDA. “Traditionally, the summer months are a time for many GCC residents to travel to the Far East and to Europe,” he said.
“However, we believe this is a perfect time to showcase the offering of Sharjah to the region. We have everything from culture, to beaches, to sporting attractions—all in a family-friendly, culturally-sensitive environment.”
Noman believes the showcase should be viewed as a strident move towards developing the tourism industry in Sharjah, and the fact that it is wholly government-financed means there is one clear end-goal in sight.
“The purpose of the roadshow is to build awareness of Sharjah’s unique offering to tour operators around the region. We have set the target of achieving a five percent growth in tourism from last year. In light of the current world economic climate, this may seem like a tall order, but we believe it is very achievable with a focused marketing drive.”
The roadshow opens in Riyadh, before covering Jeddah, Al-Khobar, Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. SCTDA will be joined by: Sharjah International Airport; Sharjah Airport Travel Agency; Radisson SAS Resort; Millennium Hotel, Sharjah; Coral Beach Resort; Sharjah National Hotels; and Embassy Suites Hotel.
Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) was established in 1996, in accordance with the Emiri decree no. 5 for 1996, with a main objective to promote the commerce and tourism activities within the emirate of Sharjah.
SCTDA activities include the organization and sponsorship of various events within the emirate, including the Formula 1 Powerboat Race, Spring Festivals, Summer Campaigns and roadshows. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
