New opportunities to further spice up Sharjah’s tourism & hospitality sector

New opportunities to further spice up Sharjah’s tourism & hospitality sector

Although Sharjah's tourism sector has been hit to some extent by the COVID-19 pandemic, as have all components of the economy, government support and stimulus packages have been helping this vital sector take on the challenge, said Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). Domestic tourism has largely softened the blow and is now proving to be the mainstay of the tourism sector in the Emirate in the wake of the COVID-19 challenge. Thanks to the government intervention, the UAE as a whole has successfully weathered the storm and now has a brighter future ahead, Al Midfa stressed. "Recovery to pre-crisis levels may probably take longer than first predicted with a more widespread re-opening of borders yet to unfold. We must also factor in the long-term changes in travel behaviour as a result of the crisis," he added. Listing out the strategies being employed by the Sharjah government to revive the tourism sector in the Emirate, Al Midfa said that the Emirate is working to restore the traveller confidence through measures such as the 'Sharjah Safe for Travel Stamp' and constant monitoring of the Emirate's tourist attractions and hospitality establishments in collaboration with