Sharjah Tourism Numbers Rebound

T

he latest report by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) shows the tourism industry rebounding. The number of visitors increased 9 percent in the second half of the year, after falling 15 percent in the first half of the year. The report said “The total number of guests staying in the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments was down to 1,447,934 in 2009, a 6 percent decline compared to the 1,535,234 guests reported in 2008.”

The number of guests staying in hotels declined from 824,135 in 2008 to 748,677 in 2009. SCTDA statistics show the number of hotels and hotel apartments in Sharjah increased to 110 in 2009, comprised of 69 hotel apartments and 41 hotels. There were 103 hotel and hotel apartments in 2008, comprised of 37 hotels and 66 hotel apartments. The SCTDA report said the hotel occupancy rate in Sharjah fell only 11 percent despite the global financial crisis and its impact on the world’s tourism sector.