DUBAI: The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority has announced the emirate's participation in the prestigious ITB Singapore, being held from October 17-19 at the iconic Marina Bay Sands in the city-state. ITB Singapore is one of the most important events of the travel and tourism industry in Asia, bringing together leaders of world tourism. Mohammed Ali Al Noman, Chairman of the SCTDA, will be heading the Sharjah delegation, which includes representatives of the Sharjah government as well as the travel and tourism industry, including Sharjah International Airport, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Hotel Ramada Sharjah and Golden Tulip. The SCTDA Chairman said that Sharjah is participating in the high-profile exhibition for the fourth year in a row in view of the encouraging and positive results of the earlier participation marked by the increasing number of tourists from Asian markets. Al Noman said that the number of Asian tourists to Sharjah had shot up in the first few months of this year. While the emirate had received 136,31 tourists from Asia until August, visitors from Singapore accounted for 7,121 as against 6,197 tourists during the same period last year, which is a 15 percent increase. Al Noman said the Authority is working to boost Sharjah's presence in the Asian markets such as China and Singapore through cooperation and participation in international exhibitions like ITB Singapore and BITE (Beijing International Tourism Expo). He pointed out that Sharjah has just concluded a grand road show across major Indian cities as part of the initiative by the National Council for Tourism and Antiquities. Al Noman said that the Authority is looking forward to promoting Sharjah's spectacular calendar of international events, especially the Sharjah Water Festival and the F1H2O Powerboat World Championship to be held in December and the Sharjah Light Festival in February at the Singapore exhibition. Besides, the focus this year will be on introducing to Asian markets Sharjah's latest tourism projects, including the Khor Fakkan and Kalba ecotourism initiatives, underscoring the emirate's eminence as a complete family tourist destination. Al Noman said: “ITB Singapore is an important promotional platform for various international destinations and major travel and tourism companies. It is also an ideal opportunity to increase tourism investments by meetings with leading Asian investors as well as interact with other tourism players and world media.”
