ID :
104072
Tue, 02/02/2010 - 15:02
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https://oananews.org//node/104072
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Sharjah reports 9% increase in tourist numbers for second half of 2009
Sharjah, Feb 2, 2010 (WAM)- The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has released detailed statistics on the performance of Sharjah's tourism sector for the second half of 2009. According to the statistics, the number of visitors to Sharjah picked up by 9% during this period, which balanced out the 15% decline experienced in the first half of the year due to the effects of the financial crisis on the global tourism sector.
During 2009, the number of hotels and hotel apartments in the emirate of Sharjah increased by 7% to 110 (41 hotels and 69 hotel apartments), as compared to 103 (37 hotels and 66 hotel apartments) in 2008. Accordingly, the total number of available rooms rose to 8,727 in 2009 (4,275 hotel rooms and 4,452 hotel apartment rooms), a 14% increase from the 7,647 rooms (3,896 hotel rooms and 3,751 hotel apartment rooms) that were available in 2008 Despite the global financial crisis and its impact on the world's tourism sector in 2009, Sharjah's hotel occupancy rate suffered a mere 11% decline from 80% in 2008 to 69% in 2009, taking into account the dramatic 14% increase in the number of additional rooms made available throughout 2009. The hotel occupancy rate in Sharjah was 74% in 2009, only marginally lower than the 86% occupancy rate recorded in 2008, while the occupancy in hotel apartments was 64% in 2009 and 72% in 2008.
Figures show that the total number of occupied room nights in Sharjah's hotel establishments dropped by only 3% in 2009 to 1,462,165 - down from 1,504,859 nights in 2008, with hotel room nights accounting for 790,900 of the 2009 total (down from 882,599 in 2008) and hotel apartment room nights accounting for the remaining 671,265 room nights (up from 622,260 in 2008).
The total number of guests staying in the emirate's hotels and hotel apartments was down to 1,447,934 in 2009, a 6% decline compared to the 1,535,234 guests reported in 2008. This included 748,677 guests staying in hotels (down from 824,135 in 2008), and 699,257 guests staying in hotel apartments (down from 711,099 in 2008).
According to the SCTDA's statistics, the 608,281 European tourists accounted for 42 per cent of total tourist arrivals to the emirate in 2009, while GCC tourists accounted for 23% (327,916), tourists from other Arab countries for 11%, and tourists from Asian countries for 15% (218,515), with the remaining 9% was made up of 6% African tourists (88,596), 2% tourists from the US (28,774) and 1% tourists from the Pacific region (19,242).
Commenting on the SCTDA's report, H.E. Mohamed A. Al Noman, SCTDA Director General, stressed that Sharjah's leading position on the global tourism map can be seen from the minor decline witnessed in the emirate's tourism performance in 2009 compared to other regions in the world. He credited this excellent performance and the increase in the number of hotels and hotel apartments to the mutual strategic planning carried out by different economic sectors within the emirate.
During 2009, the number of hotels and hotel apartments in the emirate of Sharjah increased by 7% to 110 (41 hotels and 69 hotel apartments), as compared to 103 (37 hotels and 66 hotel apartments) in 2008. Accordingly, the total number of available rooms rose to 8,727 in 2009 (4,275 hotel rooms and 4,452 hotel apartment rooms), a 14% increase from the 7,647 rooms (3,896 hotel rooms and 3,751 hotel apartment rooms) that were available in 2008 Despite the global financial crisis and its impact on the world's tourism sector in 2009, Sharjah's hotel occupancy rate suffered a mere 11% decline from 80% in 2008 to 69% in 2009, taking into account the dramatic 14% increase in the number of additional rooms made available throughout 2009. The hotel occupancy rate in Sharjah was 74% in 2009, only marginally lower than the 86% occupancy rate recorded in 2008, while the occupancy in hotel apartments was 64% in 2009 and 72% in 2008.
Figures show that the total number of occupied room nights in Sharjah's hotel establishments dropped by only 3% in 2009 to 1,462,165 - down from 1,504,859 nights in 2008, with hotel room nights accounting for 790,900 of the 2009 total (down from 882,599 in 2008) and hotel apartment room nights accounting for the remaining 671,265 room nights (up from 622,260 in 2008).
The total number of guests staying in the emirate's hotels and hotel apartments was down to 1,447,934 in 2009, a 6% decline compared to the 1,535,234 guests reported in 2008. This included 748,677 guests staying in hotels (down from 824,135 in 2008), and 699,257 guests staying in hotel apartments (down from 711,099 in 2008).
According to the SCTDA's statistics, the 608,281 European tourists accounted for 42 per cent of total tourist arrivals to the emirate in 2009, while GCC tourists accounted for 23% (327,916), tourists from other Arab countries for 11%, and tourists from Asian countries for 15% (218,515), with the remaining 9% was made up of 6% African tourists (88,596), 2% tourists from the US (28,774) and 1% tourists from the Pacific region (19,242).
Commenting on the SCTDA's report, H.E. Mohamed A. Al Noman, SCTDA Director General, stressed that Sharjah's leading position on the global tourism map can be seen from the minor decline witnessed in the emirate's tourism performance in 2009 compared to other regions in the world. He credited this excellent performance and the increase in the number of hotels and hotel apartments to the mutual strategic planning carried out by different economic sectors within the emirate.
