Sharjah’s Tourism Sector Sees 3% Growth in 2024, Russia Emerges as Top Source Market

Sharjah’s tourism industry experienced a notable surge in the first eight months of 2024, with hotel guest numbers increasing by 3.07% compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). A total of 1.057 million guests stayed in hotels across the emirate, up from 1.025 million during the same timeframe last year, while hotel occupancy rates remained steady at 66%.

These updates were shared during SCTDA’s annual ‘Connected Meeting,’ held at the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park on Thursday. The event brought together key industry players to discuss the sector’s performance and future outlook.

Russia emerged as the top source market for Sharjah between January and August 2024, contributing 21% of the total hotel guests, which equates to approximately 160,000 visitors. The UAE was the second-largest market, accounting for 11% of hotel guests, followed by India (10%) and Oman (6%).

In his address, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, emphasized the emirate’s focus on strengthening both local and international strategic partnerships to further boost tourism. “Sharjah has ambitious plans to further enhance the tourism sector, which already contributes over 11% to the UAE’s non-oil GDP,” Al Midfa said. He highlighted that efforts to attract more visitors include infrastructure investments, the expansion of Sharjah International Airport, and the organization of year-round events aimed at enhancing the overall visitor experience.

Al Midfa also discussed the authority’s plans for collaborative marketing campaigns to expand Sharjah’s appeal to a global audience. “By strengthening collaboration among all tourism stakeholders, we aim to consistently elevate service quality and bolster Sharjah’s status as a premier global tourist destination,” he added.

In addition to focusing on traditional markets, SCTDA is exploring opportunities to diversify its tourism offerings and expand into new regions. The authority’s ongoing efforts include enhancing tourism services and improving the overall visitor experience, with the goal of increasing tourist arrivals and ensuring Sharjah remains competitive on the global tourism stage.

The ‘Connected Meeting’ provided a platform for discussing these developments and aligning the efforts of various stakeholders in the tourism industry as Sharjah looks ahead to further growth in the coming years.