Tag Archives: H E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) announced that it will participate at GITEX Technology Week 2019, which will take place from October 6-10 at Dubai World Trade Centre, under the umbrella of the Sharjah Government. Underscoring its commitment to harnessing the power of technology in its efforts to promote Sharjah’s tourism sector, SCTDA will launch new innovative services at the Sharjah Pavilion of the event.   Commenting on SCTDA’s GITEX participation, H. E.Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said, “The role of Artificial Intelligence within the business world has grown dramatically over the past decade and as a result, recent years have witnessed widespread adoption of AI applications by the travel and tourism industry as well. Thanks to the increased connectivity of devices, the Internet of Things (IoT) is also making its impact felt in the tourism and hospitality industry. ” “We consider GITEX an ideal platform to inform the public about our innovative smart services that have been designed to complement the UAE Smart Government goals to help customers save time and effort and to contribute to sustainable development process. The smart services developed by the Authority form part of the objectives of the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, adopting an innovative approach to tourism as a key pillar of the Vision,” he shared.

As part of its efforts to achieve the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, which aims to attract more than 10 million tourists to the emirate by the year 2021, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) announced that it will organise roadshows in three Chinese cities — Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai. The campaign, which is set to run from September 16-20, is aimed at stimulating the Chinese outbound travel market to Sharjah by encouraging them to take advantage of the UAE’s visa-on-arrival policy for Chinese tourists. The growing number of Chinese tourists to Sharjah who come to explore the emirate’s cultural and heritage identity has made it one of the most important markets for SCTDA. Therefore, the roadshow will add immense value to the Authority’s efforts to attract more Chinese travellers to the emirate, by creating awareness on its product offerings and other special packages. In line with this, the roadshows in Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai will see SCTDA highlight the emirate’s ambitious development projects in cooperation with the public and private sectors before Chinese audiences. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said, “The number of visitors from China during the second quarter of this year has reached to 13,289, which reflects the consistently increasing interest of Chinese tourists to visit Sharjah, and it is expected this figure will go even higher by the end of this year. In view of this growth, SCTDA’s upcoming roadshows in three Chinese cities will strengthen communication channels with travel, tourism and hospitality industry leaders, and will promote exchange of best practices, successful experiences, and insights on latest trends to effectively support the growth of the tourism industry.”

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced that it is aiming to attract more Russian visitors. According to the 2018 figures released by SCTDA, Russian visitors ranked second on the list of overnight guests in Sharjah at 328,000. The number of guests from Russia, the Commonwealth, and the Baltics region also posted a 41 per cent growth last year compared to the previous year. Moreover, the market share of Russian visitors went up to 23 per cent during the same period. In light of this trend, SCTDA and Air Arabia will organise a B2B event on  September 11, 2019 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Moscow to showcase Sharjah’s growing reputation as a premiere tourist destination, allowing for the opportunity to forge new partnerships with key Russian tourism industry stakeholders. The event represents SCTDA’s continuing efforts to make sure that the emirate is widely promoted across tourism and travel related events in Russia.          This year, SCTDA’s campaigns are focused on eco-tourism products, outdoor activities, and branded hotels to firmly establish Sharjah’s status as an ideal global family-friendly destination. All these initiatives are in response to the directives of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to position Sharjah as the ideal global tourist destination. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said, “With the influx of Russian tourists visiting the emirate, we at SCTDA are working hard to sustain this trend. Expanding our presence in Russia through our partnerships with key local tourism and travel players is of extreme significance to us.”

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) announced, alongside the Sharjah Summer Festival 2019 celebrations, a month of fun, exciting recreational, cultural, and educational activities at the Expo Centre Sharjah. The ongoing activities at the Centre began on July 17, 2019 and will run until August 17, 2019, forming part of the SCTDA’s efforts to develop the emirate’s tourism and other key sectors. The centre’s ‘Sharjah Fun Fair’ has been divided into different areas, children can join in a range of games and events being held at the Cartoon Network Football Zone, which features a free play football pitch, a Cartoon Network-themed football shoot-out, and a fully functioning Cartoon Network arts and crafts area. The Sharjah Fun Fair also has a special PlayStation Gaming Zone as well as a Transformers Gaming Zone.  In addition, the ‘Sharjah Fun Fair’ houses a Food Zone with bright themed food stalls. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “Through our collaboration with the Expo Centre Sharjah, we aim to achieve the fundamental objectives of Sharjah Tourism Vision to attract 10 million tourists by 2021. With the support of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, we continue to work with our partners from the public and private sectors to develop diverse products and services that will help boost the tourism sector.”    

Following the success of the first Sharjah Summer Festival last year, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has launched a new version of the festival this year, which will take place from July 17 to August 17, 2019.  The festival will offer special tourist packages that have been created especially with families in view, which includes a diverse portfolio of leisure activities ranging from summer camps to shopping discounts and more. The SCTDA has also revealed that the latest edition of the festival is part of the continuing efforts to attract over 10 million tourists into Sharjah by the year 2021. This year, the festival will feature diverse entertainment events and fun recreational and cultural activities for the summer season organized to highlight Sharjah’s unique customs, tourist sites, and natural beauty. The event will host a variety of surprises and activities throughout the month, providing local, regional, and international tourists with a range of discounts and other exclusive offerings in hotels and shopping centers. Expo Centre Sharjah will also host the family-oriented “Sharjah Fun Fair” with fun, indoor activities on top of other cultural events that will be staged across the emirate as part of the festival. Visitors can participate in sports and games scheduled during the event, including several fun activities in an area dedicated for children. There will also be food kiosks, competitions and other events to experience. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said, “The festival’s new edition reflects our keenness to organise events that enhance the emirate’s tourism sector and revitalise the economy. It is also part of the ongoing efforts to reinforce the emirate’s position as a highly preferred tourist destination.” …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) aims to uplift women’s role in the travel and tourism sector with an initiative that combines tourism training and promotes equality through community initiatives. The dates for the training, as part of the women’s empowerment initiative, were announced in conjunction with NAMA Women Advancement Establishment during Women Economic Empowerment Global Summit (WEEGS) 2017, which was held in Sharjah. Through creating a learning programme that advocates for gender equality and women’s economic empowerment as per Goal #5 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, SCTDA shall contribute to the UAE’s efforts towards driving women’s empowerment. The training of first and second batches of candidates will be held from July 7-11; and October 13-17, respectively. By equipping more women with the skills and knowledge needed to address the demands of the sector, the initiative will prepare them to take on challenging roles in tourism and the travel and hospitality industry. Furthermore, the programme is set to have a wider impact and social reach to resonate with the UN-Women Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). H.E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said: “Our partnership with Women’s Economic Empowerment Global Summit, which serves as a catalyst for positive change, adds further value to our efforts in this direction.” As part of the initiative, SCTDA has set two main objectives including the promotion of education, training and professional development for women. To achieve this, the Authority has designed a customised women’s empowerment training programme to address the key learning needs identified for 40 Emirati women who are graduates. The promotion of equality through community initiatives and advocacy is also a focus area of the programme. The initiative offers …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), in partnership with Emirates Airlines, has embarked on a three-city roadshow, which is taking place from June 11, 2019 in Budapest and will run until June 14, 2019 covering other key stops; Warsaw and Prague. The series is aimed towards focusing the spotlight on Sharjah’s main tourist attractions across three key markets in Central Europe for the first time. “The three-city roadshow forms part of SCTDA’s ongoing efforts to accelerate Sharjah’s tourism industry. It also serves as one of our key contributions to the government’s economic diversification policy. Additionally, by organizing strategic B2B events, we are demonstrating our commitment to tapping new source markets worldwide to boost our international tourist arrivals as per the objectives of Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021. We look forward to highlighting why Sharjah is a destination of choice among global visitors,” H.E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said. “These B2B events in Budapest, Warsaw, and Prague are being held to help raise awareness about Sharjah’s diverse tourist offerings and advanced amenities along with increased ease with which people can travel to the emirate,” H.E. Al Midfa added. The roadshow will also be featuring workshop and networking sessions. Apart from SCTDA officials, Sharjah delegates will include Sharjah Investment & Development Authority (Shurooq); Emirates Airlines, Air Arabia, Sharjah National Hotels along with Sharjah-based DMC – Orient Tours; The Sharjah Collection, Managed by Mysk; Coral Beach Resort & Spa; Golden Tulip Hotel Apartments; Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort &Spa; and Four Points by Sheraton, Occidental Sharjah Grand.

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) continues to remain on track to drive the emirate’s tourism sector after its major 2018 accomplishments revealed a steady rise in the number of visitors and improved hotel revenues. SCTDA made the announcement ahead of its upcoming participation at the Arabian Travel Market 2019 to be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. During the event, the Authority will promote its tourism projects and initiatives to raise global awareness of the emirate’s distinctive, all-year-round tourist attractions.  The total number of hotel guests in 2018 reached 1,738,543, their combined revenue totaled AED 633 million. Hotels and hotel apartments witnessed 65 per cent and 60 per cent occupancy rate, respectively.   H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “The Sharjah Government’s vision is to attract 10 million visitors by 2021, in time for the UAE’s 50th founding anniversary. Thanks to the unlimited efforts and the cooperation of all partners with us, we have already achieved at least 70 per cent of this vision, which is the equivalent of 7 million visitors who have come to Sharjah. This number is divided into leading exhibitions, events, museums visitors and tourists through the Sharjah International Airport—a quality focused achievement that we are proud of and it has also inspired us to continue moving forward. The continuing efforts to improve and enhance the tourism sector plays a large and important role in helping achieve the objectives of this vision. Moreover, the positive performance of the local tourism sector is an important addition to successful achievements of Sharjah, which has also been named World Book Capital 2019 by the Director-General of UNESCO.”

With the aim of promoting Sharjah’s unique tourism and hospitality offerings before discerning travellers and travel companies from the region and around the world, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) announced its participation for the 22nd consecutive year, at the upcoming edition of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) to be held from April 28 to May 1, 2019, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. A total of 34 government and private sector entities from the emirate of Sharjah will participate at ATM 2019, including Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah Airport Authority, Sharjah Museums Authority, Directorate of Awqaf in Sharjah, Air Arabia, Sharjah Airport Travel Agency: SATA, Hilton Sharjah Hotel, Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort and Spa, the Act Hotel Sharjah, Citymax Hotel Sharjah, Aryana Hotel Sharjah, Copthorne Hotel Sharjah, Hotel Holiday International Sharjah, Swiss-Belhotel Sharjah, Novotel Hotels and Resorts, Orient Tours and Travels LLC, Baithans Hotels Management LLC, Beach Hotel Sharjah, Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah, Al Majaz Première Deluxe Hotel Apartments, Sharjah Palace Hotel, Golden Tulip Hotel Sharjah, Ibis Styles Sharjah Hotel, Ramada Hotel and Suites Sharjah, Coral Beach Resort Sharjah, Tulip Inn Al Khan Hotel, Breeze Hotel, Al Khalidiah Tourism LLC, Cozmo Travel LLC Trav trolley, Sayara Limousine and Car Rental, Sharjah National Travel and Tourist Agency and TravTalk. The SCTDA will take advantage of the opportunity to highlight Sharjah’s key tourism elements and potentials including the latest developments in tourism, such as adventures and sports sectors in line with the vision of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to attract international and regional tourists to the Emirate. Commenting on the participation, H.E Khalid Jasim …

Amid an ever-growing number of Russian visitors to Sharjah, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is further boosting its presence in Russia’s tourism sector following the surge in tourist arrivals to the emirate which reached 392,691 in 2018. SCTDA is promoting the emirate’s leading attractions through its 20th year of participation at the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (MITT) 2019, taking place from March 12 to 14, 2019 at Expo Centre Fairground. MITT 2019 marks the 26th anniversary of the event with 1,799 companies taking part in the exhibitions and the number of visitors from around the world expected to exceed 25,000. H E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “MITT will once again provide SCTDA with a global platform to showcase the emirate’s promotional plans to enhance its position as a leading family tourist destination and attract 10 million tourists by 2021 based on the objective of Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021. We look forward to strengthening our relations with our Russian travel and tourism partners and agencies to enable us to gain wider access to the country and key European markets.” This year, SCTDA is focusing on eco-tourism products, outdoor activities and branded hotels operating in the emirate to promote Sharjah as an ideal regional and global family-friendly destination. Sharjah’s delegation at the exhibition includes Sharjah International Airport; Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA); Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA); Air Arabia; Sharjah Collection; Coral Beach Resort; Ramada Hotel & Suites Sharjah; Radisson Blu Resort; Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort; Copthorne Hotel Sharjah; Red Castle Hotel; Tulip Inn; Al Khalidiah Tourism LLC.