Tag Archives: H E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) implemented an emirate-wide awareness campaign designed to support local hotel establishments in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The move falls in line with the nation’s continuing efforts to raise the level of precautionary and preventive measures against COVID-19, in response to recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO). The SCTDA also confirmed that a series of inspections will be conducted across hotel establishments in the emirate to ensure compliance and adherence to set standards and methods to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The inspections will ensure that hygiene measures, disinfection and sterilisation are all completed in a correct manner. Hotels are also being advised on documentation of their sterilisation measures. H.E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said, “We are dedicated to making the most pertinent decisions that ensure continuity and minimum disruption, while also minimising the risk of disease transmission in the UAE. The UAE remains in the lead when it comes to  harnessing its energies and capabilities to face this global crisis with full efficiency, in line with the sense of responsibility rooted in the vision of our wise leadership, which calls on strengthening international and humanitarian solidarity to maintain security and stability.” The SCTDA’s Tourism Standards Department is in charge of following up on the disinfection and sterilisation process in hotel establishments in Sharjah, thus ensuring that the precautionary measures are carefully observed and the level of health awareness is raised in order to preserve the safety of all. The Authority has also started to circulate awareness brochures online to all hotel establishments and the authority’s employees. These brochures include key information on how to avoid spreading the virus, …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) revealed that the emirate recorded a three per cent growth in the number of hotel guests in 2019 as compared to 2018. The sector welcomed approximately 1.8 million guests last year with a hotel occupancy rate of 66 per cent. In terms of nationalities, guests from the Russian Federation topped the list, followed by GCC countries such as KSA and Oman, and then India. H.E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “The emirate witnessed robust inflows of tourists throughout last year, thanks to the emirate’s major achievements in terms of the launch of new recreation facilities, tourism initiatives and related activities. Sharjah’s higher hotel occupancy rates can be attributed to the success of the initiatives and projects implemented in line with the vision of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to further enhance the emirate’s position on the global tourism landscape.” Al Midfa noted that by the end of 2019, the emirate had more than 10,000 hotel rooms, comprising 1,331 rooms in nine 5-star hotels; 2,733 rooms in 21 4-star hotels; as well as thirty one in one to three-star hotels; and 2,485 apartments in 40 hotel apartment facilities. Furthermore, six new 5-star and 4-star hotels were inaugurated last year, and more than seven new hotel projects are expected to be unveiled in 2020. This reflects Sharjah’s growth as a must-visit destination for families, business travellers and those seeking exciting tourism and recreation activities, and highlights investor confidence in Sharjah’s flourishing tourism sector.

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) continues to work towards establishing a strong foothold in the Northern European tourism market. Efforts to draw in more visitors from the region will commence this year with its upcoming participation at the Matka Nordic Travel Fair in Helsinki, Finland. Set to take place from January 15 to 19, 2020, the latest edition marks the second consecutive year that SCTDA will be joining the premier global travel event. In 2020, the Authority will showcase Sharjah’s range of diverse tourism offerings – from world-class hotels to exciting adventures and other fun activities to special packages and promos – which are expected to appeal to the Northern European travellers. The five-day Matka Nordic Travel Fair is the largest travel and tourism exhibition in Northern Europe, an important source market for Sharjah’s tourism sector. More than 50,000 visitors and about 20,000 tourism and travel agencies attend the annual international gathering. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said, “As the largest tourism and travel exhibition in Northern Europe, the Matka Nordic Travel Fair is a significant and strategic platform for us at SCTDA to showcase the emirate’s diverse range of tourism products for visitors and companies in the region. Our participation is part of our continuous efforts to raise Sharjah’s profile as a leading destination that attracts all kinds of tourists from all over the world.” Sharjah welcomed more than 578,000 European travellers in 2018, up 24 per cent from 468,034 tourists recorded in 2017. Joining the SCTDA delegates in the global event are the executives of the Sharjah International Airport Authority, Sharjah Expo, Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) announced the hosting of 20th edition of the Sharjah World Championship Week to be held from December 17-21, 2019 on Khalid Lagoon during a press conference at the Al Majaz Waterfront, in the presence of H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; His Excellency Ali Salem Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority and Chairman of Sharjah International Marine Sports Club; Nicolo di San Germano, Promoter, UIM F1 Powerboat and Aquabike World Championship, and a group of racers who are participating in the championship. The event will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, said, “Our main promotional message for this year’s tournament is reflected in the slogan ‘Go Full Throttle into Thrill,’ which highlights the emirate’s passion for water sports activities and offering all that is distinctive and exceptional in a renewed and interesting template filled with competitive spirit, entertainment, excitement of winning and championships.” His Excellency Ali Salem Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority and Chairman of Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, said, “We are proud to be once again hosting this year’s edition of Sharjah World Championship Week, which follows the mandate of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to consolidate Sharjah’s leading position as an ideal destination for sports and leisure based activities.”   Nicolo de San Germano, Promoter, UIM F1 Powerboat and Aquabike …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced its new standards for the classification of hotel establishments in the emirate, in line with the implementation of Resolution No. 38 of 2019. The resolution aims to classify hotel establishments in Sharjah in line with the latest standards. The new standards were announced following a workshop organised by SCTDA for representatives of hotels and other hospitality establishments in Sharjah. The workshop detailed the updated classification criteria for hotel establishments and the process of implementation. The new standards fall within the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to continuously enhance the experience of tourists visiting Sharjah, considering the tourism sector as one of the most important pillars of the national economy. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said, “We are confident that the new classifications will reflect positively on the performance of hotel establishments, including enhancements in facilities and services, and further contribute to boosting the hotel industry’s contribution as one of the most important components of the tourism infrastructure in the emirate. SCTDA has developed the classification in line with international standards and local requirements of establishments, with the support of our partners in the government and private sectors, in line with our mission to empower the hotel industry and realise Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, which targets 10 million tourist arrivals in the emirate by 2021. SCTDA continues to work on updating the classification and licensing criteria for existing hotel establishments in the emirate and attaining the highest international standards, with the goal of enhancing quality services of hotel establishments and providing more options for …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) hosted the sixth edition of the Sharjah Hospitality Forum under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council. The forum was held at the Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Center in Sharjah, under the theme ‘Sustainable Tourism creates Business Opportunities’, in the presence of local and global experts to explore new horizons, in order to shape the future of the tourism sector from a sustainability perspective. The agenda of the sixth Sharjah Hospitality Forum featured extensive discussions on ways to enhance the role of sustainable tourism in advancing the development of tourism services and offerings. This year’s edition of the forum opened with a speech by H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, highlighting the importance of further developing the tourism, hospitality and travel sector through the adoption of innovative approaches and strategies with a focus on sustainability, and how this will enhance the emirates’ position on the world tourism map. He further added that the idea behind choosing ‘Sustainable Tourism creates Business Opportunities’ as the theme of the sixth edition of the Hospitality Forum stems from the necessity to consolidate the concept and practices of sustainability in the tourism sector, which is at the forefront of global trends. The Chairman was followed by HE Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy for Foreign Trade Affairs, who noted that sustainable tourism is one of the pillars adopted by the UAE to serve the sustainable development goals of the United Nations, as it is also a vital sector that …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) announced the sixth edition of the Sharjah Hospitality Forum under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council. The forum will be held on November 18, 2019, at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre in Sharjah. The 2019 edition of the Sharjah Hospitality Forum aims to provide the tourism sector with the global industry expertise and knowledge needed to achieve future growth, thereby enabling the sector to keep pace with global sustainable goals. A series of interactive sessions conducted by local and global experts on the importance of sustainable tourism in supporting businesses and ways to enhance the sustainable growth of the travel and tourism sector will be featured. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, said, “We are keen to organise the sixth edition of the Hospitality Forum, bringing together an even larger group of experts and pioneers of the tourism, hospitality and travel sector. The initiative forms an integral part of our efforts to strengthen Sharjah’s position in the global tourism landscape, in line with the objectives of Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021. This year’s forum, themed ‘Sustainable Tourism creates Business Opportunities’ will highlight the importance of consolidating the concept of sustainability in the tourism sector to support local and global tourism.” “Thanks to the rapid growth of the tourism sector in the emirates which now contributes more than 8.8 per cent or more than AED 9 billion to the annual GDP of AED 102.5 billion. Through the hosting of the latest edition of the forum, we seek to …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is at the World Travel Market (WTM) London for the 17th consecutive year as part of its intensified campaign to promote Sharjah’s diverse and unique tourist offerings on the world stage. During the event, SCTDA will showcase a range of attractions that make Sharjah one of the region’s favorite family destinations on the world map today. In cooperation with its partners from the public and private sectors, SCTDA will also promote tourism programmes and initiatives designed to attract tourists to the emirate, cultural and eco-tourism products, a wide range of sports, recreational and artistic activities, and adventure packages capable of delivering an enhanced tourist experience. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said, “WTM 2019 will allow us to raise awareness about Sharjah’s growing tourism sector. It will enable the Authority to help put Sharjah on the world tourism map and entice more tourists worldwide, including travellers from the UK, Ireland, and other parts of Europe, thus bringing us closer to our goal of attracting 10 million visitors by 2021.”   H.E. Al Midfa concluded, “Our participation at the WTM is part of our response to the directive of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to make Sharjah a global touristic destination. During the event, we will have an opportunity to see the latest trends in the global tourism sector, showcase Sharjah’s beauty and offerings such as events, festivals, and exhibitions, meet and exchange experiences with decision-makers, and learn about the latest practices in tourism, hospitality, and travel.”

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) released two new books at the ongoing 38th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2019, which is being held under the theme ‘Open Books, Open Minds,’ to celebrate the Emirates’ title as ‘World Book Capital for 2019.’ The fair kicked off on October 30, 2019, and will run until November 9, 2019, at the Sharjah Expo Center. SCTDA’s participation in the third largest book fair in the world falls in line with its endeavors to further develop the tourism sector, as well as contribute to promoting knowledge and appreciation for culture and heritage across the emirate. The first book titled ‘Sharjah, the Heart of Culture’ talks about the emirate’s rich heritage, culture and sheds light on its vision and strategies to educate the younger generation about local traditions. The second book, titled ‘Visitors from Space’ has been published in collaboration with Kalimat Publishing. The comic book explores various aspects of Sharjah, including trivia, places to see, and destinations to visit for children to understand.   H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, says, “Our participation in the 38th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair reflects our commitment to accelerating the cultural movement in Sharjah. The emirate is steadily moving forward towards global leadership, in line with the vision and directives of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. H.H. has laid the foundation for a cultural and intellectual revival in the emirate by sparking the love of reading within the local community.”

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) unveiled four innovative projects designed to further boost the competitiveness of Sharjah’s tourism sector at the premier GITEX Technology Week 2019 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The ‘AI Tour Guide Chatbot,’ a 24/7 voice-and text-based chatbot, has been developed to provide the latest information about Sharjah to tourists. The interactive tour guide chatbot, which is accessible via WhatsApp, a mobile app, SCTDA’s website, and Facebook messenger, shares accurate details about the emirate’s top tourist destinations, must-do activities, world-class accommodations, leading restaurants, and much more. The project is the result of SCTDA’s initiative to incorporate the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), into its tourism programmes to better highlight Sharjah’s renowned beauty and hospitality while enhancing visitor experience. The ‘AI Tour Guide Chatbot’ supports five languages, including Arabic, English, German, Chinese, and Russian, and can recognise various Arabic accents. The other three projects are Smart Hotel Licensing and Classification system, Smart Vehicle Permit System and Hotel Statistics System – Business Intelligence (HSS – BI) solution. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “These latest projects reflect our commitment to introducing technology-driven ideas that will promote Sharjah as a world-class tourist destination with a wide range of leisure, cultural, and entertainment activities. We are confident that these initiatives will help accelerate the fulfillment of the main goal of Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, which is to attract 10 million tourists to our shores.”