Increase in GCC tourists

More than 170,000 Gulf tourists visited Sharjah in the first six months of this year, a 10 per cent increase over the number in the same period of 2007, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority said yesterday.

SCTDA Director-General Mohammed A Al Noman said he expects a further increase of 15 per cent in the GCC tourist influx into the emirate during the remaining period of this summer and the second half of the year. He attributed the growth to "good strategic planning" by the authority.

Sharjah's attractions as a world-class destination for heritage, cultural and family tourism have been effectively exploited by the authority, Al Noman said.

"GCC countries are considered among the most important tourist exporting countries to Sharjah, with over a quarter million GCC tourists visiting the emirate last year. These figures prove the vital importance of these tourism markets and justify the tremendous efforts exerted by the SCTDA on these markets and the host of tourist promotions and products offered by the authority for the GCC tourists," he said.

"SCTDA seeks to oil the wheels of economic growth by increasing the marketing and promotional activities for the emirate, with particular focus on its unique blend of past and present, archaeological treasures and modern development which make the emirate a world-class destination of choice," he said.