Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority: Announces 11th Edition of Sharjah International Travel & Tourism Forum will take place on November 25th, 2024

Press release

Published November 20th, 2024 - 03:50 GMT

11th Edition of Sharjah International Travel & Tourism Forum

November 19, 2024, Sharjah: – Under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairman of Sharjah Executive Council, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced the 11th edition of the Sharjah International Travel & Tourism Forum (SITTF) scheduled to take place on November 25th at the Expo Centre Sharjah.

Held under the theme “The Future of Tourism: Digitisation, Health, and Safety”, the forum will gather experts from the travel and tourism industry, sharing insights on how digital technologies are fundamentally reshaping the tourism industry, through a series of panel discussions and engaging workshops to further delve into the challenges and opportunities that exist within the travel and tourism sector.

The anticipated forum is set to feature notable keynote speakers, welcoming the likes of Abdalla bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE's Minister of Economy, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, SCTDA Chairman, Ahmed Al Qaseer, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), HE Basmah Al Mayman, Regional Director for the Middle East, United Nations Tourism, and other industry representatives.

The forum will address the transformation of consumer behaviour driven by digital platforms and the importance of data-driven decision-making for understanding market trends and elevating travel health and safety protocols and governance.

Additionally, the event will cover trends and innovations in the use of artificial intelligence machine learning to personalise travel experiences while ensuring compliance with health measures. It will emphasise collaboration among various stakeholders to integrate new travel protocols goals and share success stories from the sector, including how travel and tourism entities can be better prepared to mitigate health and safety challenges in a sustainable way.

Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, highlighted the opportunities and dynamic challenges that the forum will address as well as emphasising Sharjah’s achievements,"The Sharjah International Travel & Tourism Forum is committed to showcasing the innovative approaches that Sharjah is taking in the realm of travel and tourism, particularly through the integration of new technologies and media. This includes a strong emphasis on the strategic advancements we've made in artificial intelligence and machine learning, which are transforming the sector. During this year's event, we will not only share our valuable experiences but also engage in discussions about the various challenges we encounter and the opportunities that arise in this rapidly changing landscape. Our aim is to formulate practical and actionable solutions that will contribute to a sustainable and prosperous future for the industry. We are excited to welcome both local and global stakeholders to Sharjah, fostering collaboration and dialogue that will benefit everyone involved," Al Midfa said.

The Sharjah International Travel & Tourism Forum 2024 is an unmissable event for tourism professionals, government representatives, and private sector leaders By bringing together and exchanging insights on technology, health, and safety standards, SCTDA aims to position Sharjah at the forefront of sustainable, safe, and digitally advanced tourism. This also represents an important element that drives the efforts of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority to enhance the emirate's position as a leading destination for sustainable, safe, and digitally advanced tourism.

Background Information

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) was established in accordance with Emiri decree no. 5 for 1996, with the primary objective of promoting the emirate of Sharjah through planning and laying down strategies to promote tourism and commerce, undertaking activities to market and promote the emirate, and conducting appropriate market studies and surveys, including economic and social studies, and field studies and surveys.

As a public authority with a corporate body and independent budget, finance and administration systems, the SCTDA focuses on actively promoting the commerce and tourism activities within the emirate of Sharjah and increasing local, regional and international awareness of the emirate as a top tourism and commerce destination.

The SCTDA is committed to exploring and exploiting new and existing ways to promote the emirate, including participation in international exhibitions, conferences and other relevant events, and is also responsible for organising and hosting events taking place within Sharjah, including the annual Sharjah Water Festival and F1 Powerboat Grand Prix.