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Sharjah hotels post 70pc occupancy in 5 months

DUBAI - Hotel occupancy rate in Sharjah recorded a steady growth during the first five months of the year that demonstrates the resilience of the emirate’s tourism sector.

Tourist flow into the emirate jumped by seven per cent to 70 per cent during January to May, 2010, according to the latest report by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA).

“The total number of guests staying in the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments reached 637,390, a seven per cent increase compared to the 594,105 guests reported for the same period in 2009,” the report said.

The emirate will now continue to work on future plans to help increase the tourist flow into Sharjah. According to SCTDA statistics, there was a slight growth in the tourism sector with a 70 per cent hotel occupancy rate reported in the first five months of this year compared to the 67 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2009.

The total number of guests staying in hotels was 317,288 in 2010 compared to 308,656 in 2009, with 320,102 guests staying in hotel apartments in the period under review, up from 285,449 in 2009.

Figures also show that the total number of room nights in Sharjah’s hotels and hotel apartments rose to 671,097 in 2010, with hotel room nights accounting for 356,203 and hotel apartment room nights accounting for 314,894 compared to 621,910 room nights in the same period of 2009, with hotel room nights accounting for 341,496, and hotel apartment room nights accounting for 280,414.

European tourists accounted for 46 per cent of the total tourist arrivals during the first five months of 2010, while GCC tourists accounted for 25 per cent of the total number of tourists who visited the emirate. Tourists from Asian countries accounted for 14 per cent, while tourists from other Arab countries accounted for 10 per cent. Tourists from the Commonwealth countries, the US, Africa and Pacific region made up five per cent.

SCTDA Director General Mohamed A. Al Noman mentioned that these statistics are the inevitable results of Sharjah’s distinct tourist offerings and products. The authority is striving to promote Sharjah at all international, regional and local events and exhibitions, he said.

“The SCTDA is focusing on a clear strategy based on targeting leading markets that are important for parties concerned with the tourism industry, as well as on organising activities and events that would contribute directly to the promotion of tourism by taking part in the world’s largest tourism and trade exhibitions and organising promotional tours all over the world,” Al Noman said.

On SCTDA’s activities, Al Noman said: “First five months of this year have seen diverse activities by the authority, which was keen on intensively and carefully targeting local, regional and international markets so as to meet the demands of the emirate’s rapidly growing tourism market. He added that “such achievements would prompt us to step up our efforts and work dedicatedly to promote Sharjah as a distinguished tourist, heritage, cultural and family destination.”

abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com