Abu Dhabi: Over 1.3 million guests checked into Sharjah’s hotels and hotel apartments during the first nine months of 2016, according to the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA).
The guests spent a total 2.94 million nights in Sharjah’s hotels during the first nine months of the year, marking a 19 per cent year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, occupancy rates remained flat at 62 per cent.
The figures were released during SCTDA’s participation in the World Travel Market in London between November 7 and November 9. The authority headed a delegation from the emirate at the World travel Market where it profiled tourism projects taking place across Sharjah, and explored opportunities for new contracts from the European travel market. Europe is the fifth largest source market for tourism in Sharjah.
The authority said it is keen to increase tourism from the UK market by 16 per cent this year.
Another key source market for Sharjah is China, which is the emirate’s biggest growth market, the authority said in a statement on Tuesday. In the first nine months of this year, Sharjah welcomed 62,936 Chinese visitors — a 75 per cent increase year-on-year.
SCTDA said is aiming to double the number by this time next year, and expected the Chinese market to continue growing.
