Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority carries on with its Summer Campaign programme in a bid to position the emirate as a year-long destination for families in the region and the world.

GCC countries have proven a prime source market for the emirate’s tourism sector; the region topped the list of visitors to Sharjah as it sent 219,264 visitors in the first six months of 2016 – with 109,829 of them coming from Oman alone, while the UAE and Saudi Arabia sent 97,873 and 80,243 visitors to the emirate, respectively, in H1 2016.

“The fact that tourists from our closely linked Gulf Cooperation Council countries continue to flock to Sharjah at a higher rate than from anywhere else in the world is a testament to the emirate’s position as a heritage - and family-oriented destination,” assures His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA. “As we forge ahead with our Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, which aims to attract 10 million visitors by 2021 (the UAE’s 50th anniversary), we need to make sure we don’t lose sight of our positioning and values and continue place families and their needs at the heart of our offerings.” 

With that in mind, the SCTDA recently wrapped up its campaign in Saudi Arabia. The campaign included print advertising in the Arabic-language newspapers, Al Riyadh and Al Jazeera, supported by radio advertisements and a full-fledged digital campaign. Underpinning this activity, the Authority organised competitions, awarding winners with gift vouchers for a stay in one of the many beautiful hotels around the emirate of Sharjah.

The campaign in Oman, meanwhile, has also finished.  The radio campaign, which ran in both English and Arabic encouraged guests to come and stay in the Emirates hotels at a special 20.16% discount specifically during campaign dates. The activities also included a promotional stand at City Centre Muscat, which attracted a huge amount of interest from customers to the mall. In addition to this there were advertisements promoting the emirate as a tourist destination to the Omani public in newspapers published in Arabic and English, respectively, in the Sultanate.

The Summer Campaign which focuses on families smiling because they are in Sharjah together aims to cement Sharjah’s positioning as a, family-friendly tourist destination. Earlier this year, HE Al Midfa announced that SCTDA will be launching its ‘Sharjah My Family Destination’ campaign, which follows directives from His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to focus on families as the core of the strategic development of the emirate’s tourism sector.