Gulf tourist influx into Sharjah has gone up 10 per cent to 170,000 in the first half this year compared to last year, a report said.

Tourist arrivals from GCC have shown notable increase and are expected to rise further this summer, the Gulf News report quoting a Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) statement said.

SCTDA is expecting Gulf tourist arrivals to rise a further 15 per cent in the second half of the year.

Sharjah is seen as a top tourist destination in the Middle East region. SCTDA’s records revealed that GCC tourists made up 30 per cent of the total tourist influx into Sharjah, the report said.