Sharjah marks World Tourism Day in Emirates

Sharjah turned the spotlight on its picturesque East Coast by hosting the World Tourism Day, WTD, celebrations in the port city of Khorfakkan last Wednesday, with Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director General of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority leading the enthusiastic celebrations of occasion in the presence of senior government officials and leaders of the tourism and hospitality industry from across the country, including Shurooq, DTCM, Sharjah Ports Authority and dnata etc.
Welcoming the guests, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa said the Authority this year chose to host the World Tourism Day 2014, being celebrated by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO, under the theme of ‘Tourism and Community Development’, in Khorfakkan in view of the massive tourism and development growth being witnessed in the region and the special attention the East Coast has been receiving from the tourism industry.
"U.A.E. is amongst the fastest growing tourism markets in the region and the world. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than here -- on the picturesque East Coast of Sharjah," said Al Midfa.
"The new cruise-line industry is bringing in nearly 50,000 extra tourists to our emirate alone. The cruise industry is a valuable addition to any country mainly due to the fact the "tourism footprint" is low and the economic opportunity is high. Once this area has fully realised its enterprise opportunity, it is estimated that cruises could potentially generate another Dh 16 million for our economy," noted the Director General, pointing out that this is one of the reasons the Authority chose Khorfakkan for the celebrations this year.
Khorfakkan has been a key stop for international luxury cruise-liners, since opening its doors to international cruise ships in the early 1980s.
Elaborating on the World Tourism Day theme of Tourism and Community Development, Al Midfa said it holds the key to a more sustainable future for all, emphasising the transformative role of tourism and its social, political, cultural and economic relevance in the world today.
Al Midfa said, "In accordance with our leadership’s vision and guidance, the focus of the Authority since its very inception has been on strong sustainable growth. This year we can stand tall with confidence as the high profile awards that we have received all underscore the success of the effort to date. All our policies, programmes and activities are inspired and driven by the same vision, spirit, and level of dedication and foresight." Thanks to these efforts and initiatives, Sharjah has been recognised as the Capital of Islamic Culture by the OIC nations for 2014. To further exemplify our success the Emirate has been chosen for the prestigious honour of the Capital of Arab Tourism in 2015 by Arab League member states, he added.
The SCTDA Director General pointed out the East Coast is being actively regenerated with direct support from Shurooq amongst others as they forge the path ahead with strong ambitious groundbreaking projects like the Chedi Khorfakkan development, as well as their new ecotourism projects in Kalba. Preservation of key areas not only add value to our society, it also adds great value to the future of tourism as ‘natural assets’ continue to become increasingly rare treasures.
"The Khorfakkan port is in a beautiful setting. In fact, the whole region is set to grow significantly in times ahead as the tourism infrastructure and amenities offered to international visitors are improved and upgraded and more hotels open. With Sharjah’s fast growing tourism population and its expanding needs, there has never been a better time to invest in the emirate’s tourism infrastructure, especially in this beautiful Eastern region." Following the lunch, the guests were taken on a boat cruise to nearby islands followed by visits to Heritage Village and local houses to see the outstanding examples of community involvement in the tourism sector.
The World Tourism Day celebrations in Khorfakkan were also highlighted by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation in its events map/calendar spotlighting the cruise tourism opportunities on the East Coast.