HE Al Midfa: The number of Chinese visitors to Sharjah increased by a staggering 73.2% between the first half of 2015 and the same period in 2016

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is conducting a roadshow in China, covering the areas of Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Hong Kong, on September 27-30, 2016.

The roadshow began on the September 27 in Guangzhou where over 100 outbound agents have already expressed their interest in joining a workshop. The road show then moved on to Chengdu on the 28th, and will conclude in Hong Kong on Friday, September 30th.

Participants in each of the three regions will participate in a workshop profiling Sharjah as a year-round tourist destination. The workshops are followed by destination presentations, which emphasises all the characteristics and facilities of the emirate’s diverse offerings and rich cultural heritage that this market looks for in a holiday destination. Participants are further incentivised to visit through a raffle to win a trip to Sharjah.

“We consider China to be a high-potential source market for us, as can clearly been seen by the exponential growth witnessed over the last few years. Sharjah fits the tourism profile for the Chinese visitor perfectly and with the new visa on arrival announced by the federal government recently, we are confident that we will see even more growth in the coming season” said His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA. “The number of Chinese visitors to Sharjah increased by a staggering 73.2% between the first half of 2015 and the same period in 2016. While the numbers are already impressive, our data clearly indicates that the Chinese market still presents a lot of room for further sustained growth and, for that reason, we place great emphasis on this upcoming roadshow.”

Sharjah is an authentic Arabian destination that offers variety to the visitors, from sandy beaches and warm weather to family-friendly venues which, have all guaranteed its attractiveness to travellers seeking to truly explore the region and immerse themselves in its traditions, identity, and culture. The long term vision of conservation and preservation has not only focused on Sharjah’s culture and heritage but also on it’s natural environment; we are seeing a new natural diversity covering the coastline, mountains, deserts and wadis for tourists to enjoy.

The opening of the new nature reserve Al Hefaiyah mountain conservation centre on the East Coast, which is now home to the critically endangered Arabian leopard, underlines this visions. There are further plans underway to develop the Sir Bu Nair islands into a luxury environmentally friendly destination where the focus will clearly be on wildlife preservation featuring “the popularised barefoot luxury” concept ensuring total harmony for the fauna and visitors alike.

It is clear that Sharjah will continue to forge a strong position for family tourists offering unique USP’s across nature and urban environments and that these developments will continue to attract strong interest from China among other markets as we move forward.