Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum gets under way

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, witnessed the launch of the eleventh edition of the Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum (SITTF), under the theme “The Future of Tourism: in the realms of digitalisation, health, and safety,” organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, at the Sharjah Expo Centre.

The opening ceremony began with the national anthem of the United Arab Emirates, after which Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed and the attendees watched a video presentation outlining the forum’s objectives and key topics to be discussed in the sessions. This was followed by a welcoming speech from Khaled Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, extending a warm welcome to the Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and the attendees at the forum, which brings together a number of global experts, innovative sector leaders, decision-makers, and policy-makers to discuss future trends in tourism and how to leverage modern technologies to enhance tourist experiences and promote sustainability in the sector.

Al Midfa highlighted the recent recovery being witnessed in the tourism sector, according to figures released by the United Nations World Tourism organisation, which indicate a return to pre-pandemic levels. This recovery, especially post the “COVID-19” pandemic, is projected to see an increase of 4-6% in the region in 2024, contributing to global economic support.

He emphasised that logistical developments in the tourism sector and infrastructure improvements are attracting the attention of travelers and companies, thereby bolstering the sector. The Middle East region is the only one that has seen growth in tourist numbers, reaching 122% in 2023 compared to 2019.

Abdullah Al Saleh, Deputy Minister of Economy, highlighted the importance of exploring the best local and global practices in tourism development through the topics on its agenda, considering them crucial pillars in the tourism sector. Al Saleh addressed key points that should be focused on, including developing a distinguished digital infrastructure, creating opportunities for the private sector for investment and expansion, and continuously updating governmental policies and strategies.

He described the tourism sector as one of the most important developmental drivers for the national economy, citing notable achievements of the UAE where it ranked first regionally in the Tourism and Travel Competitiveness Index and sixth globally as the largest market in tourism revenue, reaching Dhs191 billion in 2023. He also mentioned the increase in hotel guests in the country, reaching 15.3 million during the first six months of the current year.

Abdullah Al Saleh revealed that the UAE is currently collaborating with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation to implement a pilot project to measure sustainable tourism in the UAE, aiming to measure the economic impact of the tourism sector and assess its environmental, cultural, and social impacts. This underscores the country’s efforts to support sustainable tourism, along with education and human resource development in the tourism sector by applying the best international practices to integrate tourism into educational curricula.

Basmah Al Mayman, Regional Director of the Middle East at UN Tourism, presented a visual presentation during the forum focusing on the organissation’s role in innovation, digital capabilities, and their reflection in the tourism sector, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of smart tourism worldwide and in the Middle East region.

During her presentation, Al Mayman shared some global tourism data from the past two years according to the UNWTO tourism scale. This included an influx of 1.3 billion international tourists, a 9.1% contribution of the tourism sector to the global GDP, and tourism exports reaching $1.7 trillion. These figures reflect the recovery of the tourism sector post-COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of job opportunities, statistics indicated the creation of 27 million new jobs in the tourism sector in 2023.

During the forum’s opening session, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi witnessed a session titled “Tourism in the Digital Transformation Era,” where both Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, the CEO of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and Basma Al Maiman, the Regional Director for the Middle East at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, spoke about the role of digital technologies in reshaping the tourism sector.

After the session’s conclusion, Sheikh Sultan then toured the exhibition halls accompanying the forum, where various government and private entities specialized in the tourism and travel sector were participating. During his tour, he familiarised himself with their prominent contributions and the services they offer that enhance the tourism and travel sectors in the UAE and Sharjah specifically.