HE Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority has underscored the importance of events that present Sharjah as a perfect tourism destination and ideal venue for international conferences and exhibitions or MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) sector thanks to its modern infrastructure, strategic location, well-connected international airport, free trade zones and a conducive economic environment attracting businessmen and investors.

This came in his remarks on the occasion of the second Sharjah Government Communication Forum being held under the theme, Effective Communication...Unified Message. Held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the forum is being attended by a galaxy of world figures, prominent Arab leaders and international media representatives coming together to discuss the mechanisms of the government communication strategies and development in the region.

Al Noman said that forums and events like these reinforce the hospitality sector in the emirate, which has been experiencing a surge in Sharjah combined with a marked increase in the number of hotel guests in recent times. Sharjah’s hotels are all full as the season coincides with the Sharjah Government Communication Forum attracting more than 500 world leaders, heads and representatives of governments and top Arab and international media representatives from across the region and beyond.

Al Noman emphasised that the Authority is keen to support and sponsor events like the Government Communication Forum, which the SCTDA is formally sponsoring, to promote public dialogue and communication besides helping increase the awareness and understanding about dealing with local and international media among government officials and various institutions and local government bodies in the emirate.

The SCTDA, which is sponsoring the Sharjah Government Communication Forum in its second year, has made available its various publications and promotional literature highlighting the emirate’s tourism sector and its rich heritage and culture at the Forum, said Al Noman. Visitors from around the world can get a quick peek into what makes Sharjah a unique family tourism destination and why the emirate earned itself the recent honour of being selected as "the Arab Tourism Capital for 2015."

The Sharjah Government Communication Forum is a key step towards the development of Government Communication and crystallization platform making credible dialogue and exchange of views possible and discussing best practices in government communication in the Arab countries and the world. The initiative is aimed at evolving channels of communication between governments and the public and improving the performance of government officials and various government agencies.