Guest numbers at Sharjah’s beach hotels swelled to more than 180,000 during the first half of this year registering 80 per cent occupancy rates, said a top official of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA).

“The heavy turnout at beach hotels and resorts in the emirate has exceeded expectations,” added Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, director general of SCTDA.

"Numerous cultural, artistic, entertainment and shopping festivals hosted by Sharjah, not to mention special promotions offered by major malls and shopping centres since the beginning of the year, have added to the emirate’s attractions in the eyes of visitors.”

He highlighted that hotels in the emirate had been encouraged by the Authority to offer special concessional rates to both visitors and residents.

"Sharjah is the only emirate that offers access to the coasts of both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman,” Al Midfa said.

"Sharjah is keen to build more world-class hotel facilities and tourist facilities with the highest standards of safety and best of leisure, water sports and recreational activities, putting the emirate among the top beach tourism destinations in the region."

The Europeans formed the largest segment of Sharjah’s tourists who stayed at the beach hotels during the first half of this year. They were followed by GCC tourists. – TradeArabia News Service