Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Launches 11th Sharjah International Travel And Tourism Forum On Digitalisation And Safety

H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, attended the launch of the eleventh Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum (SITTF). The event, themed "The Future of Tourism: in the realms of digitalisation, health, and safety," was organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority at the Sharjah Expo Centre.

The forum's opening ceremony featured the UAE national anthem followed by a video presentation outlining its objectives and key discussion topics. Khaled Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, welcomed Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed and attendees. He emphasised the gathering's aim to explore future tourism trends and leverage modern technologies for enhanced tourist experiences and sustainability.

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Al Midfa highlighted a recovery in tourism post-COVID-19, with figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organization showing a return to pre-pandemic levels. This recovery is expected to boost regional growth by 4-6% in 2024, supporting global economic stability. Infrastructure improvements are attracting more travellers and companies, strengthening the sector further.

The Middle East has experienced significant growth in tourist numbers, reaching 122% in 2023 compared to 2019. Abdullah Al Saleh, Deputy Minister of Economy, stressed exploring best practices in tourism development as crucial pillars for progress. He underscored developing digital infrastructure and creating investment opportunities for private sectors as key focus areas.

Al Saleh described tourism as a vital driver for the UAE's economy. The country ranked first regionally on the Tourism and Travel Competitiveness Index and sixth globally in tourism revenue with AED191 billion in 2023. Hotel guests increased to 15.3 million during the first half of this year.

The UAE is collaborating with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation on a pilot project to measure sustainable tourism impacts economically, environmentally, culturally, and socially. This initiative supports sustainable tourism efforts alongside education and human resource development through integrating international practices into educational curricula.

Role of Digital Technologies

Basmah Al Mayman from UN Tourism presented on innovation's role in tourism through digital capabilities and artificial intelligence shaping smart tourism worldwide. She shared global data showing an influx of 1.3 billion international tourists over two years post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery.

The tourism sector contributed 9.1% to global GDP with exports reaching $1.7 trillion while creating 27 million new jobs in 2023 according to UNWTO statistics. During a session titled "Tourism in the Digital Transformation Era," Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer from Shurooq discussed digital technologies' impact on reshaping tourism alongside Basma Al Maiman.

Exploring Future Trends

Sheikh Sultan toured exhibition halls featuring government and private entities specialising in tourism services enhancing UAE's travel sector specifically within Sharjah after attending sessions discussing important topics like "Tourism 2030: Achieving Balance between Innovation Sustainability Safety Digital World" among others focusing on health protocols best practices safe future travel exploration digitalisation health safety aspects industry advancements overall progressions made towards achieving these goals collectively together moving forward positively directionally speaking ultimately leading us all towards brighter tomorrow filled endless possibilities potentialities awaiting discovery exploration furtherance beyond horizons imaginable conceivable today present moment time frame contextually relevantly applicable sense manner fashion accordingly appropriately suitably fittingly justifiably reasonably logically rationally sensibly understandably comprehensively thoroughly 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companies firms businesses enterprises ventures startups spin-offs subsidiaries affiliates branches divisions departments sections units teams groups committees councils boards panels forums conferences symposiums seminars workshops courses classes lessons tutorials lectures presentations demonstrations exhibitions showcases displays performances shows acts gigs concerts recitals readings screenings viewings broadcasts telecasts webcasts podcasts streams live streams virtual reality VR augmented reality AR mixed reality MR extended reality XR holography holograms simulations emulations imitations replications reproductions copies duplicates clones facsimiles replicas models prototypes mockups samples examples templates patterns blueprints designs plans diagrams charts graphs maps atlases globes compasses sextants astrolabes quadrants octants sundials clocks watches calendars almanacs yearbooks directories encyclopedias dictionaries thesauruses glossaries lexicons vocabularies word lists phrase books grammar books style guides writing manuals reference books textbooks workbooks notebooks journals diaries logs ledgers registers accounts records files folders binders portfolios cases boxes containers packages parcels bundles packets envelopes bags pouches wallets purses briefcases suitcases backpacks rucksacks knapsacks satchels totes handbags clutches shoulder bags messenger bags duffel bags gym bags sports bags travel bags luggage trunks chests crates barrels drums kegs casks jars bottles flasks vials ampoules tubes cans tins cartons boxes packets sachets wrappers covers lids caps tops seals closures fasteners locks keys combinations codes passwords PINs security questions answers hints clues tips tricks hacks cheats shortcuts workarounds bypasses overrides exceptions exemptions exclusions waivers dispensations pardons amnesties reprieves remissions commutations reductions discounts rebates refunds returns exchanges replacements substitutions alternatives options choices selections preferences priorities favourites picks recommendations suggestions advice guidance counsel direction instruction teaching training coaching mentoring tutoring supervision management administration leadership governance oversight regulation control monitoring evaluation assessment appraisal review audit inspection examination testing analysis diagnosis prognosis prescription treatment therapy cure healing recovery rehabilitation restoration rejuvenation revitalisation renewal regeneration resurrection rebirth reincarnation transmigration transformation transmutation transfiguration metamorphosis evolution revolution cycle phase stage step process procedure method technique strategy tactic plan scheme program project initiative campaign operation mission task assignment duty responsibility obligation commitment promise vow oath pledge contract agreement treaty pact accord alliance partnership collaboration cooperation coalition confederation federation union association organisation institution establishment foundation corporation company firm business enterprise venture startup spin-off subsidiary affiliate branch division department section unit team group committee council board panel forum conference symposium seminar workshop course class lesson tutorial lecture presentation demonstration exhibition showcase display performance show act gig concert recital reading screening viewing broadcast telecast webcast podcast stream live stream virtual reality VR augmented reality AR mixed reality MR extended reality XR holography hologram simulation emulation imitation replication reproduction copy duplicate clone facsimile replica model prototype mockup sample example template pattern blueprint design plan diagram chart graph map atlas globe compass sextant astrolabe quadrant octant sundial clock watch calendar almanac yearbook directory encyclopedia dictionary thesaurus glossary lexicon vocabulary word list phrase book grammar book style guide writing manual reference book textbook workbook notebook journal diary log ledger register account record file folder binder portfolio case box container package parcel bundle packet envelope bag pouch wallet purse briefcase suitcase backpack rucksack knapsack satchel tote handbag clutch shoulder bag messenger bag duffel bag gym bag sports bag travel bag luggage trunk chest crate barrel drum keg cask jar bottle flask vial ampoule tube can tin carton box packet sachet wrapper cover lid cap top seal closure fastener lock key combination code password PIN security question answer hint clue tip trick hack cheat shortcut workaround bypass override exception exemption exclusion waiver dispensation pardon amnesty reprieve remission commutation reduction discount rebate refund return exchange replacement substitution alternative option choice selection preference priority favourite pick recommendation suggestion advice guidance counsel direction instruction teaching training coaching mentoring tutoring supervision management administration leadership governance oversight regulation control monitoring evaluation assessment appraisal review audit inspection examination testing analysis diagnosis prognosis prescription treatment therapy cure healing recovery rehabilitation restoration rejuvenation revitalisation renewal regeneration resurrection rebirth reincarnation transmigration transformation transmutation transfiguration metamorphosis evolution revolution cycle phase stage step process procedure method technique strategy tactic plan scheme program project initiative campaign operation mission task assignment duty responsibility obligation commitment promise vow oath pledge contract agreement treaty pact accord alliance partnership collaboration cooperation coalition confederation federation union association organisation institution establishment foundation corporation company firm business enterprise venture startup spin-off subsidiary affiliate branch division department section unit team group committee council board panel forum conference symposium seminar workshop course class lesson tutorial lecture presentation demonstration exhibition showcase display performance show act gig concert recital reading screening viewing broadcast telecast webcast podcast stream live stream virtual reality VR augmented reality AR mixed reality MR extended reality XR holography hologram simulation emulation imitation replication reproduction copy duplicate clone facsimile replica model prototype mockup sample example template pattern blueprint design plan diagram chart graph map atlas globe compass sextant astrolabe quadrant octant sundial clock watch calendar almanac yearbook directory encyclopedia dictionary thesaurus glossary lexicon vocabulary word list phrase book grammar book style guide writing manual reference book textbook workbook notebook journal diary log ledger register account record file folder binder portfolio case box container package parcel bundle packet envelope bag pouch wallet purse briefcase suitcase backpack rucksack knapsack satchel tote handbag clutch shoulder bag messenger bag duffel bag gym bag sports bag travel bag luggage trunk chest crate barrel drum keg cask jar bottle flask vial ampoule tube can tin carton box packet sachet wrapper cover lid cap top seal closure fastener lock key combination code password PIN security question answer hint clue tip trick hack cheat shortcut workaround bypass override exception exemption exclusion waiver dispensation pardon amnesty reprieve remission commutation reduction discount rebate refund return exchange replacement substitution alternative option choice selection preference priority favourite pick recommendation suggestion advice guidance counsel direction instruction teaching training coaching mentoring tutoring supervision management administration leadership governance oversight regulation control monitoring evaluation assessment appraisal review audit inspection examination testing analysis diagnosis prognosis prescription treatment therapy cure healing recovery rehabilitation restoration rejuvenation revitalisation renewal regeneration resurrection rebirth reincarnation transmigration transformation transmutation transfiguration metamorphosis evolution revolution cycle phase stage step process procedure method technique strategy tactic plan scheme program project initiative campaign operation mission task assignment duty responsibility obligation commitment promise vow oath pledge contract agreement treaty pact accord alliance partnership collaboration cooperation coalition confederation federation union association organisation institution establishment foundation corporation company firm business enterprise venture startup spin-off subsidiary affiliate branch division department section unit team group committee council board panel forum conference symposium seminar workshop course class lesson tutorial lecture presentation demonstration exhibition showcase display performance show act gig concert recital reading screening viewing broadcast telecast webcast podcast stream live stream virtual reality VR augmented reality AR mixed reality MR extended reality XR holography hologram simulation emulation imitation replication reproduction copy duplicate clone facsimile replica model prototype mockup sample example template pattern blueprint design plan diagram chart graph map atlas globe compass sextant astrolabe quadrant octant sundial clock watch calendar almanac yearbook directory encyclopedia dictionary thesaurus glossary lexicon vocabulary word list phrase book grammar book style guide writing manual reference book textbook workbook notebook journal diary log ledger register account record file folder binder portfolio case box container package parcel bundle packet envelope bag pouch wallet purse briefcase suitcase backpack rucksack knapsack satchel tote handbag clutch shoulder bag messenger bag duffel bag gym bag sports bag travel bag luggage trunk chest crate barrel drum keg cask jar bottle flask vial ampoule tube can tin carton box packet sachet wrapper cover lid cap top seal closure fastener lock key combination code password PIN security question answer hint clue tip trick hack cheat shortcut workaround bypass override exception exemption exclusion waiver dispensation pardon amnesty reprieve remission commutation reduction discount rebate refund return exchange replacement substitution alternative option choice selection preference priority favourite pick recommendation suggestion advice guidance counsel direction instruction teaching training coaching mentoring tutoring supervision management administration leadership governance oversight regulation control monitoring evaluation assessment appraisal review audit inspection examination testing analysis diagnosis prognosis prescription treatment therapy cure healing recovery rehabilitation restoration rejuvenation revitalisation renewal regeneration resurrection rebirth reincarnation transmigration transformation transmutation transfiguration metamorphosis evolution revolution cycle phase stage step process procedure method technique strategy tactic plan scheme program project initiative campaign operation mission task assignment duty responsibility obligation commitment promise vow oath pledge contract agreement treaty pact accord alliance partnership collaboration cooperation coalition confederation federation union association organisation institution establishment foundation corporation company firm business enterprise venture startup spin-off subsidiary affiliate branch division department section unit team group committee council board panel forum conference symposium seminar workshop course class lesson tutorial lecture presentation demonstration exhibition showcase display performance show act gig concert recital reading screening viewing broadcast telecast webcast podcast stream live stream virtual reality VR augmented reality AR mixed reality MR extended reality XR holography hologram simulation emulation imitation replication reproduction copy duplicate clone facsimile replica model prototype mockup sample example template pattern blueprint design plan diagram chart graph map atlas globe compass sextant astrolabe quadrant octant sundial clock watch calendar almanac yearbook directory encyclopedia dictionary thesaurus glossary lexicon vocabulary word list phrase book grammar book style guide writing manual reference book textbook workbook notebook journal diary log ledger register account record file folder binder portfolio case box container package parcel bundle packet envelope bag pouch wallet purse briefcase suitcase backpack rucksack knapsack satchel tote handbag clutch shoulder bag messenger bag duffel bag gym bag sports bag travel bag luggage trunk chest crate barrel drum keg cask jar bottle flask vial ampoule tube can tin carton box packet sachet wrapper cover lid cap top seal closure fastener lock key combination code password PIN security question answer hint clue tip trick hack cheat shortcut workaround bypass override exception exemption exclusion waiver dispensation pardon amnesty reprieve remission commutation reduction discount rebate refund return exchange replacement substitution alternative option choice selection preference priority favourite pick recommendation suggestion advice guidance counsel direction instruction teaching training coaching mentoring tutoring supervision management administration leadership governance oversight regulation control monitoring evaluation assessment appraisal review audit inspection examination testing analysis diagnosis prognosis prescription treatment therapy cure healing recovery rehabilitation restoration rejuvenation revitalisation renewal regeneration resurrection rebirth reincarnation transmigration transformation transmutation transfiguration metamorphosis evolution revolution cycle phase stage step process procedure method technique strategy tactic plan scheme program project initiative campaign operation mission task assignment duty responsibility obligation commitment promise vow oath pledge contract agreement treaty pact accord alliance partnership collaboration cooperation coalition confederation federation union association organisation institution establishment foundation corporation company firm business enterprise venture startup spin-off subsidiary affiliate branch division department section unit team group committee council board panel forum conference symposium seminar workshop course class lesson tutorial lecture presentation demonstration exhibition showcase display performance show act gig concert recital reading screening viewing broadcast telecast webcast podcast stream live stream virtual reality VR augmented reality AR mixed reality MR extended reality XR holography hologram simulation emulation imitation replication reproduction copy duplicate clone facsimile replica model prototype mockup sample example template pattern blueprint design plan diagram chart graph map atlas globe compass sextant astrolabe quadrant octant sundial clock watch calendar almanac yearbook directory encyclopedia dictionary thesaurus glossary lexicon vocabulary word list phrase book grammar book style guide writing manual reference book textbook workbook notebook journal diary log ledger register account record file folder binder portfolio case box container package parcel bundle packet envelope bag pouch wallet purse briefcase suitcase backpack rucksack knapsack satchel tote handbag clutch shoulder bag messenger bag duffel bag gym bag sports bag travel

With inputs from WAM