The Sharjah’s pavilion at ITB Berlin has been attracting thousands of participating Germans, European, and other international visitors during the ongoing trade show.

Many tourism officials and representatives from various travel and tourism agencies have been visiting the pavilion since the exhibition’s kick off on March 7 to learn more about Sharjah’s leading tourism projects, agendas, initiatives, services, and events.

Apart from featuring Sharjah’s unique culture and rich heritage, tourism projects and programs, and modern tourism infrastructure on the international stage, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) also aims to exchange experiences with tourism and business experts during the event in support of the emirate’s economic, social, cultural, and environmental development.

SCTDA chairman Khalid Jasim Al Midfa said that ITB Berlin is an important global platform for local government and private entities to showcase Sharjah as a leading international tourist destination.

He added: “The authority will continuously enhance its capabilities and facilities to promote Sharjah’s tourism and trade sectors at the local, regional, and global levels. In addition, we are putting a series of programmes to advance the tourism sector, attract visitors from different countries, and enrich the experiences of travellers visiting the emirate in line with our vision to draw 10 million tourists by 2021.”

Al Midfa also stated: “Sharjah is now one of the favourite destinations for millions of global visitors as a result of our efforts to put the emirate on the world tourism map. It has become popular due to its rich history and culture, in addition to its advanced tourism infrastructure and innovative hospitality services. Europe is an important market for Sharjah. In 2017, Sharjah received around 468,043 European tourists, up by almost 36 per cent from 343,987 visitors in 2016. The figures clearly reflect Europe’s interest in learning about the emirate’s cultural identity and authentic heritage.”

The Sharjah’s pavilion houses different government bodies, such as Knowledge Without Borders; Expo Centre Sharjah; The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA); the Sharjah Museums Department (SMD); and Sharjah International Airport Authority. Joining them are private entities such as Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort and Spa; Ramada Hotel and Suites Sharjah; Radisson Blue Resort, Sharjah; Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort and Spa, and Al Rais Tours and Holidays. - TradeArabia News Service