The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) will organise a roadshow in CIS countries, Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, in collaboration with Air Arabia. Sharjah delegation, including representatives of travel agencies, will introduce Sharjah’s tourism product and the emirate’s tourism agenda for this year, and the international events and festivals organised in the emirate. The roadshow, taking place from Sept.3 to 10, comes as part of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority’s strategy of boosting the emirate’s position in these immense tourism markets. The roadshow aims at presenting the latest tourism projects and international festivals organised by the emirate all over the year. One of the most prominent festivals is the Sharjah Water Festival that will be held next December. The festival will include a number of world-class shows and activities, along with the UIM F1H2O World Championship, the Grand Prix of Sharjah, hosted for the 13th consecutive year. Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority’s Chairman Mohamed Ali Al Noman stressed on the significance of this roadshow in developing the tourism collaboration with the CIS countries, and promoting Sharjah as a unique tourism, cultural and family prominent destination. Mohamed Ali Al Noman pointed that this roadshow comes as part of the Authority’s promotional strategy to boost the tourism sector with further tourist, keeping pace with Air Arabia launching new flights to international destinations. He also said that the emirate has proved during the last years that it is one of the most preferable destinations for CIS countries, Russians on top. “Al Noman referred to the annual increase in the Russian tourists visiting Sharjah that reached 207,617 tourists in 2011 whereas in 2010, 204,340 Russian tourists visited the emirate. He added “This number is expected to increase in 2012.” “Sharjah, well-known for its beautiful beaches and natural wonders, welcomed 60,313 tourists from Ukraine and Kazakhstan in 2011, whereas, 50,015 tourists from these countries visited the emirate in 2010. This we recorded 21 per cent increase. This confirms the positive results of such initiatives that introduces the emirate’s tourism features and attracts more tourists,” Al Noman concluded. The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority has organised recently a roadshow in the gulf covered Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman, and participated in a tourism exhibition in Saudi Arabia. The SCTDA organised as well in the past years a number of roadshows in international capitals and cities.                                  From gulftoday