Sharjah Tourism Advisory Committee held its 4th meeting, headed by His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), which examined the tourism achievements of the emirate during the present year and the most popular jobs and events in the coming duration.

The conference was participated in by HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah; HE Abdul Aziz Al Jarwan, Director of Transportation in Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority; Ahmed Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); Sheikha Nawar Bint Ahmed Al Qasimi, Communications Senior Coordinator at Sharjah Art Foundation; Ms. Maha AlJuwaied, Administrative coordinator-Chairman's office in the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA); Engineer Lamia Obaid Al Shamsi, Director of Support Services Department at Sharjah International Airport Authority; Mr. Mohammed Desouky, Area Manager for Sharjah and Northern Emirates in Air Arabia; and Mr Nasser Nasef, Chairman of the Hotels Business Group in the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Resolving the meeting, HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa hired all stakeholders in Sharjah's tourism sector to collaborate in a spirit of cooperation under the visionary instructions of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
HE Al Midfa stated: "In recent years, Sharjah has actually been successful in developing an international track record as an integrated tourist destination, which has enabled the emirate to attain a prominent position on the world tourism map. Sharjah's achievements have actually won regional and international acknowledgments, most significantly the titles, 'Capital of Arab Tourism for 2015' and 'Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014' as well as a variety of awards during its involvement in significant world travel and tourism exhibitions.".

Indicating the significance of promoting the most recent projects and tourism festivals, HE Al Midfa advised the general public and private sectors to collaborate to display prior to the world the emirate's exceptional tourist offerings. He stated the primary step to this direction included improving the tourism flow to the emirate to bring in 10 million visitors by 2021 to achieve the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021. As part of the campaign to promote the Sharjah Tourism Vision and its pillars, SCTDA recently organised an event to commemorate the World Tourism Day under the theme 'All Things New in Sharjah', HE Al Midfa said. Throughout the event, which brought in a big participation, the Authority announced the most recent advancements and new projects that will be introduced in the emirate in the years to coming, he included.

Stressing the value of offering a best tourist experience for visitors to Sharjah, HE Al Midfa stated the traditional approach to tourism must be replaced with an integrated effort that suits the interests of visitors from all nationalities. A major step in this direction was the launch of the Marhabtain effort, which intends to improve the personnel capabilities of the tourism sector as a key pillar of the Sharjah Tourism Vision, he said.
HE Al Midfa likewise pointed to Sharjah's involvement in significant regional, local and global exhibitions and roadway shows in the travel and tourist sectors in leading cities of the world, which have helped open new horizons for Sharjah tourism and enhance ties with travel and tourism entities at the international level.

Advisory Committee members provide assistance.
The individuals in the conference revealed their dedication to cooperation and exchange of info and experience to develop joint marketing strategies, specifically in the locations of occasions, celebrations and exhibits arranged in the emirate throughout the year. The meeting also evaluated the development jobs presently under method in cooperation with numerous entities and to promote them under the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021.

HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Chief Executive Officer of Expo Centre Sharjah, said the Sharjah Tourism Vision focus on family tourism will make the emirate a popular location for households from the Gulf nations and the Arab world as well as other major markets from around the world. Hotels in Sharjah have actually already gotten one million visitors in the very first half of the year, highlighting the robust tourist arrivals in the emirate, he said.

"Family tourist is taking control of the travel industry, and is set to register a development of 4.79 per-cent yearly till 2020 as against 3.8 per-cent growth by the total tourism sector. The international family tourism market, which deserved US$ 140 billion in 2013, is expected to expand to more than US$ 180 billion by 2018," HE Saif Al Midfa specified.

He likewise pointed out that the Global Muslim Travel Index highlights the choice for family-friendly holiday destinations that offer a safe travel environment, dining alternatives, prayer centers, airport services, cottage options and language effectiveness. "Sharjah scores high up on all of these aspects and can draw in far more traveler traffic as envisaged by the Vision," HE Saif Al Midfa stated.

As an essential stakeholder in Sharjah's tourist sector, Expo Centre Sharjah will remain to support the development of Sharjah's tourist sector by hosting programs, conferences and events assisting in business and leisure travel, HE Saif Al Midfa said.

The Sharjah Tourism Advisory Committee was set up to encourage the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority on the development and application of the methods to enhance the commerce and tourism sectors in the emirate. The Committee is mandated to pursue sustainable growth of the emirate's tourist sector and the economy, utilizing a multifaceted approach to ongoing advancement.