Sharjah hotel supply to increase 75% in four years

The number of hotel rooms in Sharjah is expected to increase 75% by 2014, a senior official from the emirate said at the Arabian Travel market event in the UAE, according to a newswire WAM report.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), said that the rise in the number of rooms is due to the expected rise in the number of hotel facilities in the emirate over the next four years, as well as the sustained growth that the tourism sector in Sharjah is witnessing.

"SCTDA statistics show that the emirate of Sharjah is preparing for 33 new hotel facilities by 2014, with the total number of hotel facilities in the emirate reaching 143 comparing to 110 in the emirate currently. With 7387 hotel rooms expected to be added, the number of hotel rooms in the emirate will reach 15,141, compared to the current number of 8727," Al Qassimi said.

According to newswire WAM, SCTDA statistics show that the emirate is set to witness the establishment of 14 hotel apartments with 2162 rooms, as well 19 hotels with 4225 rooms, in the next four years. This will raise the number of hotel apartments from 69 to 83, while the number of hotels will increase from 41 to 60.

In addition, the next four years will also see 14 new five star hotels with 3550 rooms, and 7 luxury hotel apartments with a total of 1685 rooms, opening their doors in the emirate, according to the Authority's statistics.

Al Qassimi said: "Tourism is a great source of income for the emirate, and Sharjah is working hard to develop tourism projects, cities and tourist villages in order to attract tourists and investors to its land. Sharjah also seeks to host and participate in various international festivals and activities, such as the recently announced Sharjah Light Festival, and to undertake further promotional campaigns organised by the SCTDA, which always has, and continues to contribute greatly to attracting visitors and tourists to Sharjah."

Sharjah's major attractions include its various historical sites, its great weather, and the surrounding natural environment, all of which continues to attract tourists and investors, Al Qassimi added.