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SCTDA to Support Tourism Sector Development

Mohamed A. Al Noman, Director-General of the SCTDA, said in a speech delivered at a meeting with hoteliers and tourism industry representatives, held at Al Qasba Business Centre recently. The aim of the meeting was to develop a common approach to minimise the negative impact of the current global economic crisis on the tourism sector in the emirate of Sharjah.

The SCTDA’s Director-General reviewed the initiatives developed to attract tourists from all over the world, the most prominent of which is the Sharjah-Etisalat Water Festival. “For the past few years, we have been planning to organise and sponsor events on the local, regional and international level with the aim of further developing the Sharjah’s tourist appeal and increasing the number of tourists visiting the emirate,” said Al Noman.

Hoteliers focused on the necessity of developing promotional initiatives for the emirate across the region, with a particular focus on GCC countries, and suggested developing holiday packages in Sharjah in association with Air Arabia. They, along with representatives of the emirate’s travel and tourism sector, stressed the importance of the current trend of focusing on internal tourism, and said that the flow of tourists into Sharjah from the other emirates should be increased.

Al Noman highlighted the importance of public-private sector cooperation in the current climate, adding that there are major new public-private joint venture projects that have yet to be announced, but are in the pipeline.

“We have a numerous mega-projects that will be announced in 2009, and that are projected to fill the gap in the tourism sector. Recommendations from the meeting included promotional tours in major GCC cities in 2009 and inviting GCC travel and tourism agencies to visit the emirate. Al Noman said the SCTDA will improve its promotional campaigns in the region.

· aneela@khaleejtimes.com