After Its ITB Berlin Success, Sharjah Heads To Moscow Fair

MOSCOW - 15 March 2011 - The European interest in the picturesque Emirate of Sharjah continues to grow.  In Year 2010, the emirate attracted a whopping 204,340 tourists from Russia, only next to German visitors who crossed 300,000 mark last year.  So after its spectacular success at the just concluded International Tourism Bourse Berlin where Sharjah bagged the Best Middle East Exhibitor Award for 2011, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is now headed to the 18th Moscow International Travel and Tourism (MITT) exhibition, which is held in the Russian capital from 16 - 20 March, 2011.

During the Moscow exhibition, which will be Sharjah's 12th participation in the event, the SCTDA is to kick-off an aggressive and well thought out campaign to promote the emirate, enhancing its already formidable profile on the global tourism map.

While thanks to its unique heritage and diverse tourism attractions Sharjah is already a renowned, attractive tourism destination of choice for thousands of visitors from around the world, its participation in the 2011 edition of the MITT spectacle is part of the emirate's strategy to woo more international tourists. The SCTDA is keen to secure a leading position for the emirate in regional and international travel and tourism market while pushing the wheels of the emirate's economic growth forward.


SCTDA Director General, H.E. Mohamed A. Al Noman, is heading a high profile delegation from Sharjah to MITT that includes representatives of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, the Sharjah International Airport Authority, Radisson Blu Hotel, Ramada Hotel Sharjah and Oceanic Hotel & Resort etc.. Sharjah's participation in the Moscow fair is aimed at increasing the influx of Russian tourists into the emirate and boost the commerce and tourism industry.

Speaking on Sharjah's involvement in the Moscow exhibition, Director General Al Noman said: "Our participation in the 18th Moscow International Travel and Tourism exhibition is part of our strategy to promote the emirate of Sharjah and attract more international visitors. Our efforts are aimed at consolidating the series of steps that the Authority has taken over the past few years, in addition to our continuous participation in top international exhibitions and initiatives to turn the spotlight on this beautiful emirate that is a complete tourist destination for the whole family."

Al Noman emphasised that SCTDA's enthusiastic and successful participation in the Moscow fair over the past decade is a result of Sharjah's immense interest in the Russian tourism market.  "The MITT is an event that has earned itself high profile since it took off in 1994. The Moscow exhibition has played an important role in evolving and uniting the perspectives of those working in the tourism sector from various different countries," he said.

Sharjah remains one of the most popular and favourite destinations for Russian tourists, who consider the emirate a symbol of family, cultural and heritage tourism. While 204,340 Russians visited Sharjah last year, the statistics show a strong year-on-year growth in the number of Russian tourists over the last four years. In fact, the Russians ranked first among tourist arrivals in Sharjah.

Striving for excellence in functional and aesthetic appearance, Sharjah has each year presented the unique character of the emirate at its MITT stand with designs that celebrate its magnificent monuments and tourist attractions. Visitors to the stand are welcomed with news and information about the emirate in both English and Russian.

MITT is one of the five largest tourist exhibitions worldwide. Last year, it featured more than 2500 companies from 111 countries. The total space occupied by the exhibition was approximately 27,000 square meters, and the show was attended by more than 120,000 visitors.

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For further information, please contact:
Media & Communication Department
Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority
Government of Sharjah
P.O. Box 26661, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Tel : +971 (6) 5566 777, Fax : +971 (6) 5563000

© Press Release 2011