Sharjah hotel revenues up 7% to Dh378 million in H1

sharjah - Visitor numbers from China grow a staggering 73% from January to June

Sharjah is gaining popularity among family tourists across the globe, boosting hotel revenue and occupancy rates.

Hotels across Sharjah witnessed a seven per cent year-on-year growth in revenue to Dh378 million during the first six months of the year.

China emerged as the most successful new market for the emirate with more than 73 per cent year-on-year growth in visitors during the January-to-June period of 2016. New flight routes to Pakistan also helped increase visitors in the double digits.

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has identified new markets and worked with local partners to increase guests from these markets. Figures for the first half of 2016 are encouraging, with a 19 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2015.

Bookings from China witnessed a staggering 73.2 per cent increase in tourist numbers in the first six months of the year. The SCTDA is continuing to focus on this market and expects more tourist arrivals over the following year owing to a new overseas office, Chinese staff and online marketing in the region.

The effect of new flight routes to Pakistan also had a positive effect on the number of visitors, with a 10.3 per cent increase in hotel guests during the first half of 2016.

"The positive results underline the fact that Sharjah is gaining in popularity as a year-round destination for families around the world," said Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of the SCTDA. "This, in turn, proves that the emirate has succeeded in diversifying its tourism and hospitality offerings," Al Midfa added.

The number of Asian tourists grew by 12 per cent, making Asia the second-largest source market for Sharjah, just behind the GCC which sent nearly 220,000 visitors in the first six months of 2016. This is also expected to grow as a result of marketing campaigns in the second half of the year.

Europe and Russia continue to maintain third place for hotel guests staying in Sharjah during the first six months of 2016. The number of Russian visitors is starting to pick up again, increasing by 1.8 per cent in the first six months of this year.

Visitors from non-GCC Arab countries totalled just under a quarter of a million guests, with the number of Jordanians visiting the emirate increasing by four per cent.

Tourists' inflow from Africa also increased by two per cent in the January-to-June period of 2016.

Al Midfa explained that the rise in visitor numbers is in line with the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, which relies on four pillars to boost tourism in the emirate: creating offerings and packages targeting families, offering new experiences, putting in place world-class tourism facilities and capabilities, and establishing Sharjah as an international cultural hub.

Al Midfa assured that Sharjah is well on its way to attract 10 million visitors by the year 2021 - when the UAE celebrates its 50th anniversary - as stipulated in the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021.

- abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah