The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCDTA) is to launch an education and engagement program for the UK travel trade as the emirate bids to attract more UK visitors.
Chairman H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa told Travel Weekly: “We are continuously developing partnerships with key personnel and companies within the travel industry and expanding our presence to new markets through these relationships.”
The emirate has already launched Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021 with the aim to attract 10 million tourists to the emirate by 2021.
“Sharjah Tourism will be working closely with the UK travel trade”, added Al Midfa. “We have also set out a new trade campaign in the UK that includes an education and engagement program – details of which will be confirmed soon.”
Last year, Pegasus Airlines launched new routes from Stansted to Sharjah via Istanbul.
Numerous hotel projects are also underway in the emirate, including The Al Badayer Oasis Project, Novotel Sharjah Expo, Sharjah Anantara Resort, Pullman Hotel, Al Faya Lodge and DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah, as well as a desert park resort in the Mahthab area featuring 134 rooms, a new 210-room Tulip hotel and a new 493-room Ramada.
The SCTDA has also recently launched several training programmes to improve the skills and knowledge of local tour guides.
Al Midfa added: “We are keen to provide the resources and training necessary for travel agents to attract more guests to the emirate and view it as an investment in the future.”