Sharjah to take part in Beijing tourism exhibition

SHARJAH - China is easily the largest and fastest growing tourism market in the world today and it is critically important for us to tap this most promising market, said HE Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority. This came in his statement today announcing Sharjah’s participation in the Beijing International Tourism Exhibition 2013, to be held from June 21 to 23 at the China National Convention Centre in the Chinese capital. 

The Sharjah delegation representing government entities and travel and tourism industry players is taking part in the strategic Beijing exhibition for the eighth year.    
 
“Our objective is to make the most of the growing Chinese and Asian interest in Sharjah and to benefit from the immense potential the fast burgeoning Chinese and Asian tourism market,” said Al Noman.  He pointed out that with more than 20 million tourists a year, a figure that is projected to cross 100 million by 2020, today China is easily the biggest tourism market in the world. “We need to tap into this massive market,” he added.   

Al Noman said that the number of Chinese and Asian tourists and business travellers to Sharjah has seen encouraging growth in recent years in tune with the growing phenomenon of Chinese and Asian visitors flocking to exotic destinations around the world. Last year the number of Asian visitors to Sharjah, including the Chinese, stood at 227,554 representing 13 per cent of the emirate’s total tourist population. In the first quarter of 2013, this has gone up slightly and constitutes 14 per cent of Sharjah’s total share of tourists.

“Obviously, we need to do more with the active participation of public and private sector actors in the tourism and hospitality industry to invite more international tourists and investors from China and Asia in general,” emphasised the SCTDA Chairman.

Al Noman said: “Our participation is in line with our tourism marketing strategy and is aimed at keeping ourselves abreast of new trends and opportunities in the global tourism bazaar. In the past few years, Sharjah's tourism industry has witnessed rapid growth in infrastructure and service sectors. This in turn encourages and drives new investment opportunities in the tourism industry in the emirate."

The Authority will showcase the celebrated Cultural Capital of the Arab and Islamic world at the Beijing exhibition from a distinctly designed platform, which has repeatedly received the Best Exhibitor Award for its design excellence.  The SCTDA also has a dedicated Chinese language website to cater to this growing tourism market.  

The Sharjah delegation includes Radisson Blu Resort and Sharjah Museums Department among others. Founded in 2004, the BITE has emerged as one of the major international tourism and travel exhibitions and networking events of the industry, bringing the best and brightest from across the region and from around the world. 

Last year, the 3-day mega tourism event attracted more than 900 exhibitors and 43,000 trade visitors from 80 countries showcasing destinations, tourism attractions, travel packages, products and services. BITE 2013 packs in an enormous showcase and has emerged as an important and influential platform for tourism networking and business transactions.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews