SHARJAH, 1st May, 2025 (WAM) -- The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced that the Emirate of Sharjah welcomed approximately 1.6 million hotel guests in 2024, marking an 11 percent increase compared to 2023.

The announcement was made during a press conference held on Wednesday with the participation of SCTDA and over 25 government and private entities at the Sharjah Pavilion during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM).

The authority unveiled key tourism statistics for 2024, revealing that Russian guests topped the list with over 270,000 visitors, reflecting an 18 percent rise from 2023. Indian guests ranked second with over 170,000, an increase of six percent. European visitors rose by 16 percent to more than 100,000, while the number of Chinese guests surged to over 60,000, registering an exceptional growth of 828 percent compared to 2023.

Among Arab countries, Oman led the list of hotel guests, contributing six percent of the total, followed by Saudi Arabia at five percent, Egypt at four percent, and Syria and Iraq at three percent each.

Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, highlighted the authority's latest developments, including the official launch of Sharjah's new tourism brand campaign, Visit Sharjah. The campaign showcases the emirate's diverse tourism offerings combining heritage, adventure, nature, and modern experiences, in addition to shedding light on major events such as the Sharjah Light Festival and others.

Commenting on the 2024 tourism results, Al Midfa said Sharjah continues to achieve steady growth in the travel and tourism sector, guided by the leadership's strategic vision.

He said, "These positive figures achieved by Sharjah in 2024 reaffirm the emirate's growing status as a distinguished global tourism destination that blends authenticity with modernity. The remarkable 11 percent growth in hotel guest numbers reflects the strategic efforts undertaken by SCTDA to enhance Sharjah's appeal and develop the tourism sector in line with the emirate's future vision under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah."

He added, "We remain committed to further strengthening Sharjah's position as a global hub for sustainable and cultural tourism. We will continue investing in the development of tourism infrastructure and diversifying products and services to meet the needs of visitors from around the world and enrich their experience in the emirate."

During its participation in ATM 2025, the Sharjah Pavilion offered interactive and virtual experiences using advanced digital technologies to introduce visitors to the emirate's heritage, present achievements and future aspirations.