Sharjah Tourism Authority Successfully Completes 2025 Roadshow In India To Boost Partnerships

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has wrapped up its 2025 roadshow in India, visiting Mumbai on September 3 and New Delhi on September 5. This initiative aimed to bolster Sharjah's appeal as a destination for Indian tourists and strengthen strategic ties with key players in India's tourism sector.

The roadshow featured events at "St. Regis – Mumbai" and "Leela Palace – New Delhi," attracting around 90 business partners from India in each city. Additionally, about 10 representatives from Indian media attended the New Delhi event. The Sharjah delegation included representatives from Air Arabia, Emirates Airlines, Al Zajil Tourism, Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA), Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Golden Tulip Hotel, and Centro Sharjah Hotel.

SCTDA announced four strategic partnerships with prominent Indian tourism companies: Royal Tours, Riya Holidays, Thrillophila, and TravClan. These collaborations aim to enhance Sharjah's visibility in the Indian market. Furthermore, promotional campaigns were launched with platforms like Amazon and Inshorts to boost awareness of Sharjah's tourism offerings on digital travel and commerce platforms.

The tour targeted leading travel agents, online travel agencies, and distributors in the UAE and GCC countries. It showcased Sharjah's top tourist attractions while exploring collaboration opportunities in travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors. A promotional video highlighting Sharjah's new tourism identity "Visit Sharjah" was also screened during the events.

Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, stated: "India is one of the largest tourism markets for Sharjah, consistently recording remarkable growth rates." He emphasized the importance of maintaining direct engagement with partners in this key market to sustain long-term partnerships that enhance Sharjah's position as a rich tourism destination.

Sharjah recorded a significant increase of approximately 38% in hotel guests from India during the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Around 130,000 guests visited compared to approximately 94,000 previously. This growth is attributed to tailored packages meeting Indian travelers' aspirations for excellence and diversity.

Interactive Experiences Highlighting Attractions

The roadshow concluded with interactive experiences allowing attendees to explore Sharjah's attractions through display screens and virtual reality (VR) headsets. These experiences offered participants an immersive glimpse into the emirate's diverse offerings and authentic cultural spirit.

India remains one of the top five source markets for Sharjah’s tourism sector in 2025. The steady increase in visitors highlights India's strategic importance in supporting the emirate's tourism growth. In 2024 alone, over 172,000 hotel guests from India visited Sharjah.

With inputs from WAM