|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, 02 July, 2018, 12 : 34 PM [IST]
|
‘Continuous hotel development across varied segments is key to attract business travellers’
|
|
Slowly and gradually Sharjah is
emerging as an attractive choice for
Indian travellers to the UAE. H.E.
Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman
of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism
Development Authority, in an
interaction with Disha Shah Ghosh
talks about their activities in India
since establishing presence here
in 2014 and the varied profile of
travellers visiting the emirate, which
are complemented by the hotel
developments.
|
|
|
|
QWhat kind of tourist
numbers have you recorded
from India in 2017 & what was
the percentage growth?
The number of Indian visitors who
stayed in Sharjah’s hospitality
establishments has gone up
from 110,400 in 2016 to a total
of 138,000 in 2017, recording an
8% growth, indicating the rising
interest of Indian travellers in
family-friendly international
holiday destinations. The growing
interest of Indian visitors in
Sharjah’s tourism offerings also
reflects the emirate’s popularity
as an ideal holiday destination in
the UAE.
QSince establishing your
presence in India in 2014,
what kind of traveller trends
have you noticed from the Indian
market, especially among young
millennials?
Indian millennials are increasingly
becoming travel-savvy and are
more interested in exploring
the cultural aspects of holiday
destinations, which used to be a
rare quality among the previous
generation travellers. Since
Sharjah has a lot to offer in these
fields, it attracts visitors looking
to immerse themselves in the
rich culture and heritage of the
emirate, while also providing an
array of outdoor activities, local
parks and nature reserves that
house rare species of birds and
animals.
We are also noticing an
increasing interest from Indian
tourists in ecotourism initiatives
undertaken by Sharjah’s tourism
department. Indians are also
seeking short weekend getaways
and staycations like never before.
The concept of ‘glamping,’ a
holiday experience that combines
nature with modern luxury is
gaining prominence as well.
QWhat is the current profile
of visitors from India to
Sharjah? Any plan to expand
your reach to other traveller’s
segments?
Indian visitor demographics
flocking Sharjah’s tourism
establishments are value
shoppers, and enthusiasts of
various lifestyle trends such as
green living, travel, health and
fitness, sports, technologies,
family-oriented hobbies, media
and entertainment. Among
the most sought-after holiday
activities in the emirate are
beaches, family events, natural
heritage and adventure activities
such as desert and water sports.
The continuous development
of midscale and business hotel
properties in the emirate is
playing a key role in attracting
business travellers as well.
QBesides road shows, what
are the other trade activities
that you plan to undertake?
In addition to organising meetings
and workshops involving leading
tourism agencies across major
Indian cities, we also participate
in exhibitions regularly along with
establishing multiple FAM trips
for the tour operator. As indicated
by the rising number of Indian
tourists flocking Sharjah’s tourism
establishments, our tourism events,
festivals and lifestyle experiences
are specifically designed to cater
to the Indian market’s choices,
appealing to both tourists and
potential investors.
QSince India & UAE enjoy
healthy business ties, what
kind of focus are you according
to the MICE segment?
In addition to our reputation as
one of the most attractive, familyfriendly
tourism destinations, the
emirate’s popularity as a business
destination is also rising, thanks to
the development of midscale and
business hotel properties that cater
to the MICE sector, supported by
the tourism industry and its various
segments. MICE is a key segment
that drives the tourism sector’s
growth and SCTDA benefits
from international promotional
campaigns highlighting Sharjah’s
clear differentials in this sector.
As cited by the International
Congress and Convention
Association (ICCA), the number of
international association meetings
in the Middle East has more than
tripled in the last 10 years.
We constantly organise
meetings with potential
investors highlighting Sharjah’s
developments in this sector.
With the ongoing five-star resort
developments in the emirate,
coupled with the diversity of
gastronomic offerings and
supporting tourism infrastructures,
we are confident that Indian
businesses will find Sharjah an
attractive choice to connect with
regional markets.
QPlans to promote Sharjah
with Air Arabia?
The emirate, which is home
to a large Indian community,
regularly attracts visitors from
the subcontinent seeking to meet
their relatives or simply seeking
to explore the country. Hence, we
are keen to organise sustained
and effective campaigns with all
stakeholders in the tourism sector,
especially Air Arabia which
currently operates direct flights to
13 Indian cities, thereby ensuring
a hassle-free travel experience
to these visitors. Most number of
tourist arrivals to the emirate is
being recorded from Bengaluru,
Hyderabad, New Delhi, Mumbai,
and Chennai.
disha.shah@saffronsynergies.in
|
|
|
|
|