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Hotel in Sharjah |
According to the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), the emirate's tourism regulatory agency, more than 1.45 million tourists stayed in hotels and hotel apartments in Sharjah in 2007, up 11% compared to 1.31 million in 2006. The overall occupancy rate in hotels and hotel apartments was 80% in 2007, 5% increase over 2006. The overall occupancy in hotels was 85% in 2007, compared to 82% in 2006 while it was 73% for hotel apartments, up from 67% in 2006.
Mohammad A. Al Noman, Director General, SCTDA, said, "This increase in the number of hotel premises in the emirate and the rise in their occupancy rate indicate clearly the increased volume of tourists visiting Sharjah, which has occupied a leading position on the international tourism map”.
SCTDA statistics showed that European tourists accounted for 33% of the tourist influx in 2007. Tourists from the GCC accounted for 30% and 13% came from various other Arab countries. Asian tourists comprised 20% while the American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, African and Pacific tourists made up the remaining 4%.
