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Sharjah sees 75pc rise in hotel rooms by 2014

DUBAI — The number of hotel rooms in Sharjah is expected to increase by 75 per cent in the next four years, a top government official of the emirate said on Thursday at Arabian 
Travel Market (ATM).

“This is due to the expected rise in the number of hotel facilities in the emirate over the next four years, as well as the sustained growth that the tourism sector in Sharjah is witnessing,” Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) Chairman Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi said.

Al Qassimi said SCTDA statistics show that the emirate is preparing for 33 new hotel facilities by 2014, with the total number of hotel facilities in the emirate reaching 143 comparing to 110 in the emirate currently. “With 7,387 hotel rooms expected to be added, the number of the hotel rooms in the emirate will reach 15,141, compared to the current number of 8,727,” he said.

SCTDA statistics show that the emirate is set to witness the establishment of 14 hotel apartments with 2,162 rooms, as well 19 hotels with 4,225 rooms, in the next four years. This will raise the number of hotel apartments from 69 to 83, while the number of hotels will increase from 41 to 60.

In addition, the next four years will also see 14 new five star hotels with 3,550 rooms, and seven luxury hotel apartments with a total of 1685 rooms, opening their doors in the emirate, according to the Authority’s statistics.

“Tourism is a great source of income for the emirate, and Sharjah is working hard to develop tourism projects, cities and tourist villages in order to attract tourists and investors to its land. Sharjah also seeks to host and participate in various international festivals and activities, such as the recently announced Sharjah Light Festival, and to undertake further promotional campaigns organized by the SCTDA, which always has, and continues to contribute greatly to attracting visitors and tourists to Sharjah,” Al Qassimi said.

The chairman noted that the tourism sector is considered as one of the most active economic sectors in the emirate today, saying that it has drawn the attention of various international organisations and authorities after proving its ability to attract tourists from around the world due to its unique tourist attractions. These attractions, he said, include the emirate of Sharjah’s various historical sites, its great weather, and the surrounding natural environment, all of which continues to attract tourists and investors.

Commenting on the interest in and traffic to their stand at the Arabian Travel Market, Al Qassimi said: “The vast amount of interest shown at the stand proves the importance of the tourism product offered by the emirate. It is Sharjah’s unique offering that has caused the flow of tourists to the emirate to double during the past five years.— abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com