Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is targeting the arrival of 200,000 Chinese visitors to the emirate by 2021.
Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of SCTDA, said that China is a major international source market for tourism and commerce.
Hotels in Sharjah welcomed more than 75,000 Chinese visitors during the first three quarters of 2016, a 75 percent year on year growth, he said.
“Through taking into account the Chinese markets distinctive characteristics and focusing on the Sharjah’s strengths and unique cultural tourism offering, we are confident that we can continue the upward trend of this market into Sharjah. We are aiming to confirm 200,000 Chinese guests’ nights in 2021,” he added.
A delegation including SCTDA and Air Arabia, has recently visited the north-western Chinese city of Urumqi – capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region – as part of the plan to achieve the growth.
The delegation met with the region’s major travel agencies and overseas tour organisers to discuss strategies for boosting Chinese tourism to Sharjah, as well as to gain a better insight into the markets current trends, he said.
During the visit, the delegation also discussed new flight opportunities as Air Arabia is running at high capacity, suggesting there is further potential from the region.
Al Midfa said: “This workshop is of utmost importance to us, seeing as China is our fastest-growing source market… The opening of a new office in the eastern part of China at the end of this month reaffirms our commitment to ensuring the numbers from this market continue with steady growth.”
