Vol. XI No. 4; April 2015 A DDP PUBLICATION Pages: 24 ddppl.com TravTalkMiddleEast.com Sharjah mesmerises ITB Berlin ..............................................................................02 Azerbaijan: Incredible diversity to offer ..................................................................10 Aviation for socio-economic progress ....................................................................17 Sharjah sparkles at ITB Berlin Sharjah Tourism marked its presence at ITB Berlin 2015 for the 18th consecutive time, by organising several meetings, holding special interactive activities with visitors at the emirate’s stand, highlighting Sharjah’s tourism portfolio and its rich heritage and culture to the European travellers. S USMITA G HOSH our tourism portfolio European tourism market, at top events, national and the vibrancy of our rich particularly to the visitors from ceremonies and weddings .E. Khalid Jasim heritage and culture before Germany,” he concluded. in the UAE but the visitors Al Midfa, Director the world,” further informed to the Sharjah pavilion HGeneral, Sharjah Al Midfa. This year, the Sharjah got an exclusive opportunity Commerce and Tourism pavilion had featured live to enjoy this spectacle. Development Authority The SCTDA Director (SCTDA), expressed, General pointed out that “Sharjah has emerged as a to celebrate the honour of Europe looks Middle East leading cultural and family the Arab Tourism Capital tourism destination in the for 2015, the Emirate In early 2014, Sharjah’s hotel establishments received 409,585 European guests, registering an increase of 17% Middle East. Its distinct H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Noman has lined up year-round achievement in the tourism Director General Chairman activities and festivals During 2014, as many as 23,637 German tourists visited sector has brought the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Sharjah Commerce and Tourism to showcase the best of Sharjah Development Authority (SCTDA) Development Authority Emirate accolades such as its Arab culture and heritage Emirate is set to witness the opening of a number of new the Arab Tourism Capital Our long During 2014, as that will certainly appeal the luxury hotels in 2015 Award for 2015, recognition association with many as 23,637 interest of visitors from European tourists@ITB Berlin experienced perfume mak- from the Arab Tourism ITB Berlin has Germany and the wider ing, Arabic henna art, calligraphy, and witnessed the Ayala Organisation. Hence, it tourists from European market. band performing the ‘stick dance’ strengthened the Emirate’s brought Sharjah Germany visited position on the regional and closer to the Sharjah, highlighting Lauding Sharjah’s asso- international tourism map.” European tourism ciation with the ITB Berlin performances and activities Visitors tried out Arabic the Emirate’s all these years, Al Midfa celebrating the best of Henna designs, enjoyed tra- “This is an honour market, particularly growing popularity feels that as a major UAE's culture, traditions, ditional Arabic cuisine, and that underlines Sharjah’s to the visitors in Germany as a driving force in the global cuisine and arts, offering a took souvenirs of their names success in attracting nearly from Germany travel industry, ITB Berlin glimpse of what tourists in beautiful Arabic calligraphy. 2 million visitors in 2014,” cultural destination has contributed to the remark- can experience during A new addition to the stand added Al Midfa. able growth story of Sharjah. their visit to Sharjah. this year was an ‘edutainment’ delighted to present in ITB Berlin. ITB Berlin “Our long association and The stand also hosted area that explained the “We, at SCTDA, are Sharjah as the Arab Tourism offers the perfect international partnership with this a traditional Ayala band process of perfume making in proud to be in long associa- Capital at this 18th consecu- platform for Sharjah to exhibition has brought performing the ‘stick dance’. Sharjah. Visitors got an tion with ITB Berlin. We are tive year of our participation showcase the diversity of Sharjah closer to the Ayala bands usually perform Contd. on page 2 2 TRAVTALK APRIL 2015 COVER STORY Sharjah offers distinct tourism experience Contd. from page 1 growing popularity in Germany Sharjah offers a distinct attracting more visitors from as a cultural destination.” tourism experience to the Europe to Sharjah this year fol- opportunity to create their own European tourists that include lowing the Emirate’s success perfumes and take away a “In the first half of authentic culture and in winning the Arab Tourism sample from the stand. They 2014, Sharjah’s hotel estab- heritage, world-class muse- Capital 2015 Award. The also got to savour the true lishments received 409,585 ums and cultural centres. recognition is significant for flavours of traditional Arabic European guests against The Emirate boasts interna- Sharjah as it participated style with coffee, dates and in ITB Berlin, 2015, showcas- freshly made Luqaimat, an ing the Emirates’ rich portfolio Emirati preparation featuring of traditional and contempo- small dumplings. rary offerings to a vast interna- tional audience. H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman, Sharjah The ITB Berlin this year Commerce and Tourism was headed by the SCTDA Development Authority under- that included Sharjah Airport lined that the Authority’s keen- Authority, Sharjah Airport ness to showcase its Travel Agency (SATA), presence at the ITB Berlin Shurooq (Sharjah Investment this year is all the more special and Development Authority), in view of the emirate being Sharjah Environment & crowned as the Arab Tourism Protected Areas Authority Capital for 2015. Sharjah (EPAA), Sharjah Museums richly deserved the title 349,670 guests in the same tionally acclaimed educational Department, Sharjah National because of its historical period in 2013, registering centres equipped with the lat- Hotels, Coral Beach Resort, cultural heritage and contem- an increase of 17 per cent,” est technology on the one Golden Tulip Sharjah, Ramada porary tourism product. he further stated. hand and world-class tourism Sharjah, Radisson Blu Resort, infrastructure and a Sheraton Sharjah Beach the Arab Tourism Capital tourist destination. This Al Noman informed, The number of hotel diverse natural landscape that Resort & Spa, Sharjah Award in terms of tourism achievement made our partic- “Sharjah remains a favourite establishments in the Emirate includes golden beaches Premier Group, Al Shaab diversity, culture, leisure, the ipation at the ITB Berlin this holiday destination for has touched 106, including and rugged mountains Village and Spark Hotel & environment, culture, family, year all the more special. As European tourists, as revealed 50 hotels and 56 hotel bordering majestic desert Deluxe Apartments and so on. educational activities and the Arab Tourism Capital, by the latest hotel industry sta- apartments. The number on the other. opportunities. Sharjah has lined up year- tistics. Our long association of hotel rooms in the Sharjah won the presti- round activities and festivals and partnership has brought Emirate has risen to 10,000, More visitors gious honour from the Arab Commenting on the title, to showcase the best of Sharjah closer to visitors from said the SCTDA Chairman, attracted from Tourism Organisation at the Al Midfa, said, “The recogni- Arabic culture and heritage Germany. During 2014, as stressing that the Emirate is Europe 15th session of the Arab tion of Sharjah as the Arab that will certainly appeal to many as 23,637 tourists from set to witness the opening Sharjah Commerce and Council of Tourism Ministers Tourism Capital for 2015 the interest of visitors from Germany visited Sharjah, of a number of new luxury Tourism Development held in Cairo, Egypt, in 2012 reflects the Emirate’s status Germany as well as the wider highlighting the Emirate’s hotels in 2015. Authority is upbeat about after meeting all the criteria for as a major global family European market.” Sharjah mesmerises ITB Berlin INTERVIEW APRIL 2015 TRAVTALK 3 ‘Sharjah, the most-visited destination’ Led by the strategic vision of Sharjah’s leadership to establish Sharjah as a distinct global tourism destination, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority has been pursuing a long-term strategy to strengthen the tourism sector in the emirate, says H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director General, SCTDA. S USMITA G HOSH What is the Our strongest tourism As part of its strategy, the Authority has Qsignificance of markets right now are been showcasing Sharjah in local, What’s the role and Sharjah’s selection as Middle East, Europe, regional and international exhibitions, Qmandate of the the 2015 Arab Capital of focusing on the factors of distinction SCTDA? Tourism Russia, CIS region and and exclusivity.Thanks to these efforts The Sharjah Commerce and Sharjah’s selection as the 2015 Asia. Europe happens to of the past two decades, Sharjah has Tourism Development Authority Arab Capital of Tourism is a huge and be very special for us in emerged as a favourite holiday desti- (SCTDA) is dedicated to promoting well deserved honour for Sharjah. nation for visitors from around the and showcasing Sharjah and its These titles and accolades only terms of visitor trends world. In the past few years, the tourism and hospitality sector at underscore Sharjah’s pride of Authority has been able to reach out home and around the world. With its place as the cultural, intellec- global hotel chains set to