The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) organised a Tourist Guide Licence Renewal Course.

The Course is part of the Authority’s efforts to provide training for those who work in the emirate’s tourism sector in an effort to develop their competencies and improve the quality of service in the industry. This, in turn, resonates with the recommendations of the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, which aims to attract 10 million visitors to Sharjah by 2021. The Course has, since its inception, attracted a total of 119 tour guides.

The Course provided tour guides with the most recent and relevant information about Sharjah’s tourism sector, as well as the latest developments in the field and other projects in the pipeline.

A group of 23 Sharjah-based tour guides attended the training session, along with representatives from SCTDA, Environment and Protected Areas Authority, and Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). The representatives provided attendees with detailed updates on the most important tourism projects that have recently been launched in Sharjah, as well as those that are still being developed. The guides were also briefed on the new heritage and leisure sites launched in the emirate.

The programme shed light on Sharjah’s unique identity and its leading position in the regional tourism market. It also highlighted the great diversity of the emirate’s tourism offerings, ranging from cultural and heritage sites to leisure and family tourism venues. This richness and diversity have contributed to making Sharjah a perfect year-round tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. The emirate also offers plenty of attractions for nature lovers and environmental enthusiasts. Sharjah boasts a rich and diverse ecosystem; protected areas make up 4.6% of the area of Sharjah and are divided into eight conservation centres – namely, Jazirat Sir Bo Naair, Alqurm Wa Lehhfaiiah, Wasit Nature Reserve, Ed Dhelaimah, Wadil Helo, Mleiha Protected Area, Elebriddi, and Lemdynah.

The Tourist Guide Licence Renewal Course serves SCTDA’s stated objective to improve the quality of services provided to the emirate’s visitors, as measured against international standards.