The number of tourists visiting Sharjah rose more than five per cent in 2008, but authorities are concerned about tourism given this year's economic conditions, the state news agency WAM reported yesterday. The emirate recorded 1.53 million tourists last year, compared with 1.45 million the year before, statistics from the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority showed.
"We will continue our efforts to promote Sharjah's tourism brand on local, regional and international levels to further develop its position as a leading regional tourist destination," said Mohammed al Noman, the authority's director general. "However, we do not deny a possibility of reduced tourism growth in 2009 as the sector is not isolated from the impact of global economic changes." Last year's increase in tourists boosted Sharjah's hotel occupancy rate to 86 per cent. There were 103 hotels and hotel apartments in 2008, compared with 96 the year before.
The authority said 35 per cent of the tourists last year were European, while 27 per cent were from GCC countries and 12 per cent were from other Arab countries. Twenty-three per cent were from Asia and three per cent were from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the Pacific region. rditcham@thenational.ae
