Sharjah will get three new tourism projects as part of the emirate's plans to develop the tourism sector. The projects were announced during a Ramadan Majlis titled "The Promotion of Sharjah's Cultural, Environmental and Tourism Sectors'. Held under the patronage and in the presence of Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Corporation, the session highlighted the challenges faced by the eco-tourism industry. The three major environmental and tourism projects included the Al Hafya Educational Reserve Centre, an enclosure for mountain dwelling animals covering an area of 800 meters in 4 meters, the first-of-its-kind exhibition centre that will remain open throughout the year showcasing predator birds and animals, and a purpose-built recreational water park project for families. The event also explored ways to attract more projects to Sharjah with the goal of driving the emirate's tourism sector to its next growth trajectory. It was attended by Mohammad Ali Al No'man, Director General of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; Marwan Bin Jassem Al Sarkal, Chief Executive Officer of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA). Al No'man underlined the challenges and opportunities faced by the tourism sector in Sharjah, particularly eco-tourism. He said tourism in Sharjah has positively outpaced the momentum of the previous years, thanks to the directives of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Offering an overview of the current and future outlook of tourism in Sharjah, Al No'man pointed out that approximately 1.6 million tourists currently visit the emirate each year. Al No'man added that Sharjah currently records 80 per cent hotel occupancy. Predicting that the current figure of 9,000 rooms is set to rise to a total of 13,000 in the next few years, he said the growth would enable Sharjah to target new tourism markets in continents such as the Americas and Australia. Gulf News
