Sharjah displays futuristic tourism technologies during ATM 2023

The emirate of Sharjah displayed its visionary approach to the tourism industry at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023, showcasing the future of tourism in the region and beyond. Sharjah pavilion at the event demonstrated cutting-edge technologies and groundbreaking concepts, offering a compelling glimpse into the emirate’s tourist destinations.

Run by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), with the participation of 20 government and private entities, the Sharjah pavilion featured various destinations and a range of tourism experiences. Visitors, including representatives from travel companies, agencies, and ministries, as well as hospitality and entertainment investors, were all drawn to the innovative display of the booth.

Standout features of Sharjah’s participation at ATM 2023 included “Shj AI Guide - Robot” with interactive technology that offered information, pictures, and promotional videos of events, activities, and tourist attractions in the emirate. Communicating with voice and touchscreen commands, in both Arabic and English, the robot provided an engaging and immersive experience, helping visitors to explore the region’s unique offerings.

Another showcase at the pavilion was the Sharjah Formula 1 high-speed team boats to promote the “Sharjah World Championship Week,” one of the most exciting and distinguished water sports events in the emirate and the region. The Sharjah International Marine Sports Club installed a kayak simulator, offering visitors a chance to experience the water sport virtually and explore Sharjah’s various water and sea destinations.

Displaying an exclusive classic Jaguar car, the Sharjah Old Cars Club was among exhibiting entities, offering a 360° Augmented Reality technology that allows visitors to navigate through the Sharjah Classic Cars Museum. The pavilion also featured “Sharjahverse”, the metaverse city encompassing all of Sharjah at 2,590 square kilometres, as well as “Sharjah Museums Experience” to explore the emirate’s 16 museums. Meanwhile, the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) provided a fun virtual experience of the Sharjah Safari adventures inside an actual safari car at the pavilion.

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has also unveiled “Rehlati,” a unique training programme in the emirate aimed at equipping tour guides with the necessary skills to offer comprehensive services in the tourism sector. The first-of-its-kind programme, announced during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 1-4, seeks to build a proficient workforce to enhance the tourism experience in Sharjah.

The new initiative comprises four specialised training programmes, including ‘Explore the Desert with Rehlati’ in collaboration with Mleiha Archaeological Centre, ‘Explore Nature with Rehlati’ in collaboration with Sharjah’s Environment and Protected Areas Authority, ‘Explore Heritage with Rehlati’ in collaboration with Sharjah Institute for Heritage, and ‘Explore History with Rehlati’ in collaboration with Sharjah Museums Authority.

The SCTDA is overseeing the emirate’s pavilion at ATM 2023, and turning the spotlight on the offerings of 20 government and private entities from the tourism, travel, and hospitality sectors. The pavilion aims to showcase Sharjah’s competitive and innovative edge, along with its diverse tourism destinations, while also creating opportunities for collaboration with other global tourism destinations.

Visitors and participants are showing a great deal of interest in the Sharjah pavilion, which provided a close-up view of the emirate’s tourism sector and its leadership in sustainable tourism. The pavilion displayed a variety of eco-tourism options, as well as cultural, sports, adventure and many other tourism destinations that reflect the emirate’s rich cultural, historical, environmental, social, and economic diversity and abundance.

In addition, the pavilion highlighted the various government entities’ efforts to achieve digital transformation, integrate technology into the tourism sector, and promote sustainability, in line with the ATM 2023 theme “Working Towards Net Zero” and the UAE’s “Year of Sustainability.”

These efforts reflect the commitment of Sharjah towards sustainable development and its dedication to preserving the environment for future generations.

This year’s Sharjah pavilion at ATM stands out for its interactive tours that offer visitors a real-life experience of the emirate’s unique destinations. The pavilion features the “MetaVerse,” a world-exclusive to Sharjah, and 360° Augmented Reality technology that allows visitors to navigate through the corridors of the Sharjah Classic Cars Museum. Additionally, the pavilion showcases Sharjah museums experience and Sharjah Formula 1 high-speed team boats to promote the “Sharjah World Championship Week,” one of the most exciting and distinguished water sports events in the emirate and the region. The pavilion also includes a virtual sports experience with a kayak simulator, offering visitors a chance to explore Sharjah’s various water and sea destinations.