Tourism

Once renowned as the most important port on the lower Arabian Gulf and one of the key trade hubs in the region, the Emirate of Sharjah is today better known for its expanding tourism industry, especially since it has become as a favourite destination for family tourists from across the region and beyond.

Dazzling shows and carnivals, enchanting parks and stunning desert landscapes, scenic man-made lagoons and cultural hotspots, Sharjah has all that it takes to captivate everyone in the family. In fact, family tourism is a key pillar in the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, launched recently by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), the main entity responsible for promoting commercial and tourism activities in the Emirate. Under this pillar of the ambitious Vision 2021, which aims to attract more than 10 million visitors to Sharjah within the next six years, distinct packages and offers are being specially designed for family tourists.

Earlier this year, figures released by SCTDA showed that during the first two months this year hotels in Sharjah received 42,150 guests from Saudi Arabia alone, primarily families. Reflecting the growing popularity of Sharjah among families, hotels in Sharjah reported 100 per cent occupancy when the schools in the Gulf countries closed for vacation during the Spring break this year. With year-round activities and festivals showcasing the best of Arabic culture and heritage, Sharjah has ensured that it remains a favourite location for families to relax in a peaceful and secure atmosphere any time of the year.

Festivals and events such as the Sharjah Light Festival, the Sharjah Water Festival and the Sharjah International Book Fair have become highly successful in drawing thousands of families from around the region and beyond. Year on year, these events have been growing in size, innovation and creativity, attracting greater numbers of families.

In addition, Sharjah offers some of the most distinguished cultural hotspots and outstanding museums. Family holidaymakers also have the unique choice of enjoying Sharjahs pristine family-friendly beaches on the Arabian coast. Besides, water sports, snorkelling and diving activities are available on the Emirates east coast, where families have the option to either camp on the beach or stay in any of the motels and hotels that line the coast.

With the family tourist at the core of Sharjahs tourism roadmap, SCTDA is organising towards the end of this year a unique family focused event, the Sharjah International Family Tourism Conference. Featuring training workshops and networking activities, the conference will be attended by experts from tourism and hotel sectors, travel industry, celebrity speakers, ministerial delegations as well as heads of tourism authorities and departments from the region and abroad. The event represents one of the major steps by the SCTDA towards activating the partnership of public and private sector companies and institutions in a collaborative framework to achieve the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021.

Having been chosen as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2015 by the Arab Tourism Organisation, Sharjah has shown that it enjoys a distinct status as the regions leading tourism hub. In the coming years, driven by the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, the Emirate is all set to consolidate this position and make it all the more exclusive by emerging as the Ideal Family Tourism Destination.

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