Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) made the announcement during its press conference on Wednesday as part of the authority’s participation in ITB Berlin 2024, the world’s leading travel trade show, which runs until 7 March under the theme ‘Pioneer the Transition in Travel & Tourism. Together’.

As part of its participation, Sharjah is highlighting its comprehensive vision for tourism, showcasing the emirate’s prominent landmarks and unique tourist destinations that have positioned Sharjah as a preferred destination among Europeans, particularly German tourists who rank second in the total number of Western Europe visitors to Sharjah.

19 participating entities conduct a series of meetings: Within the Sharjah Pavilion, SCTDA brings together 19 government and private entities from the emirate. This collective is showcasing a vibrant array of tourism, hospitality, cultural, and entertainment institutions and facilities, highlighting Sharjah’s rich diversity of destinations, offerings, and services and further cementing its stance as a premier tourist destination in the region.

The emirate’s delegation has also held a series of meetings and engagements with investors and business leaders interested in the tourism and trade sectors, and prospective global partners in tourism, travel, and hospitality management. Additionally, interviews with the European media took place, focusing on Sharjah’s active participation and highlighting the latest innovations and experiences within the emirate’s tourism sector.

Excellence that advances tourism and economic development: Commenting on the participation, HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said: “The upswing in European market guests stands as a clear testament to the tangible success achieved through our strategic development initiatives, translating into a substantial and positive contribution to the emirate’s thriving economy.”

He added: “We take pride in these figures that demonstrate the positive impact on our tourism sector. This achievement is crucial in bolstering Sharjah’s reputation amongst the European audience, as it represents an opportunity for further growth and an increased influx of European tourists, as well as the injection of more investments into our tourism infrastructure. We are committed to building on this success by innovating further in our tourism services, offerings and experiences. We believe that these statistics are not just numbers but represent genuine opportunities to elevate Sharjah’s profile as a premier tourist destination within the region.”

Cutting edge technologies to showcase Sharjah’s troves: At the pavilion, Sharjah’s entities are showcasing the emirate’s celebrated tourist attractions and their offerings in sustainable, environmental, adventure, and cultural tourism through advanced technologies.

These include an exceptional 360° augmented reality experience, virtual reality and simulation experiences, and the immersive and life-like metaverse known as ‘SharjahVerse’. Sharjah’s commitment to conserving cultural, environmental, and archaeological treasures, as well as a wide spectrum of experiences for tourists of all interests and ages, is on display for visitors.