Sharjah tourism sector saw significant growth in the first eight months of 2024, with hotel guest numbers rising by 3.07 % compared to last year. A total of 1.057 million guests in Sharjah stayed in hotels, up from 1.025 million during the same period in 2023, while hotel occupancy rates held steady at 66%.
These figures were shared at the annual ‘Connected Meeting’ hosted by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) on Thursday at the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park.
The meeting, attended by key industry players, highlighted Russia as the top source market for Sharjah from January to August 2024, contributing 21 % of hotel guests, which amounted to around 160,000 visitors. Other major markets included the UAE (11 %), India (10 %), and Oman 6%.
Record-Breaking Numbers
The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) recently revealed impressive statistics at their annual ‘Connected Meeting’:
- 1.057 million guests stayed in Sharjah hotels from January to August 2024
- This marks a 3.07% increase compared to the same period in 2023
- Hotel occupancy rates remained steady at 66%
These figures underscore Sharjah’s growing popularity among travelers and its ability to attract diverse visitors.
Top Source Markets
The SCTDA’s data highlights the following key source markets for Sharjah’s tourism:
- Russia: Leading the pack with 21% of hotel guests (approximately 160,000 visitors)
- UAE: Contributing 11% of hotel guests
- India: Accounting for 10% of hotel guests
- Oman: Representing 6% of hotel guests
This diverse mix of international and domestic visitors demonstrates Sharjah’s broad appeal across various demographics and regions.
During the meeting, the authority also highlighted recent developments in Sharjah’s tourism industry and ongoing efforts to improve tourism services and enhance the visitor experience.
Looking ahead, SCTDA emphasized the importance of strengthening strategic partnerships, both locally and internationally, and announced plans for collaborative marketing campaigns to boost the sector.
“Sharjah has ambitious plans to further enhance the tourism sector, which already contributes over 11% to the UAE’s non-oil GDP. The emirate’s efforts include major infrastructure investments, the expansion of Sharjah International Airport, and the organization of year-round tourism events and activities. By strengthening collaboration among all tourism stakeholders, we aim to consistently elevate service quality and bolster Sharjah’s status as a premier global tourist destination,” said Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of the SCTDA.
During the meeting, SCTDA also discussed its “Business Continuity Management System,” designed to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential services to the public, even in emergencies or crises. This system, aligned with the National Standard For Business Continuity Management System, aims to strengthen institutional resilience and ensure a swift recovery from potential disruptions. It includes clear incident management plans, precautionary measures to safeguard human resources and infrastructure, and effective communication mechanisms with all relevant partners.
Meanwhile, the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is ramping up efforts to attract high-end travelers from India by promoting a range of ‘niche’ properties that offer authentic, immersive, and diverse experiences in the emirate.
As part of its efforts, SCTDA organized a series of roadshows earlier in September in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai from Sept.5 to 9 to create awareness about these unique properties among travel trade partners.
“Brands like Sheraton, Pullman and DoubleTree by Hilton have already established a presence in Sharjah. We now have a strong portfolio of niche properties that offer unique experiences to visitors which we want to promote in India,” said Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of SCTDA, during a media briefing at the New Delhi roadshow. He further announced that two additional luxury properties, Lux*Al Jabal and Lux* Al-Bridi, are expected to become operational in the near future.
Some of these properties include The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah a GHM hotel, Al Faya Retreat by Sharjah Collection, and Kingfisher Retreat by Sharjah Collection.
