Dubai – Mubasher: Sharjah’s travel sector generated revenues of AED 497 million in the first nine months of 2016, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, said.
The number of tourists visited Sharjah in the January-September period this year amounted to 1.318 million guests, who spent 2.9 million nights in the emirate’s hospitality facilities during, 19% up from the 2.5 million nights spent in the emirate in the same period in 2015.
However, overall occupancy rates remained at 62%, the same rate as last year’s, according to a statement.
The biggest growth market for Sharjah continues to come from China as the emirate welcomed 62,936 Chinese visitors in the nine-month, rising 75% from the 35,928 guests welcomed during same period in 2015.
“Sharjah’s travel and tourism sector has been scoring impressive results since the beginning of this year, it is spreading its risk by having a diverse portfolio of markets and this has been supported by the host of programmes and promotions organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority in collaboration with other stakeholders,” Al Midfa said.
“The GCC region maintained its position at the top of our list of source markets as a result of good connectivity among other factors. However, the emirate has witnessed a significant increase from a diversity of markets representing our strategy focus,” he added.
