Sharjah24: The Expo Centre Sharjah (ECS) actively participated in the 44th edition of the World Travel Market (WTM), one of the world's largest and most influential travel and tourism events. Held in London from November 5-7, 2024, the event attracted over 3,875 exhibitors from 184 countries.
Headed by H.E Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, the Centre’s delegation showcased the prominent role Sharjah plays in the regional and international exhibitions and business tourism industries. They highlighted the Centre’s strategic initiatives to boost the tourism sector, positioning Sharjah as a premier destination for business tourism, with the exhibition and conference sector serving as a key entry point.
Expo Centre Sharjah Platform, established within the Sharjah Pavilion in collaboration with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), hosted a series of high-level meetings with officials and stakeholders.
During these meetings, the Centre’s delegation discussed the expanding growth opportunities in the UAE’s exhibition industry. They also presented Expo Centre Sharjah’s 2025 events calendar, which features a diverse lineup of major regional and international trade shows and conferences designed to meet the interests of visitors and business professionals worldwide.
Al Midfa emphasised that Expo Centre Sharjah’s successful participation in WTM 2024 represented a significant boost to its ongoing efforts to establish international partnerships and enhance cooperation in the exhibition sector. He noted that this sector continues to be instrumental in driving overall tourism growth, with specific emphasis on business tourism.
The UAE’s position as a premier business tourism destination is strengthened by its extensive experience in hosting key regional and international events that draw significant participation from global visitors, corporations, and business leaders. Business tourism spending in the UAE rose by 6.5 percent last year, reaching AED 33.7 billion, compared to AED 31.6 billion in 2022.
Al Midfa added that Expo Centre Sharjah aimed, during its participation in the World Travel Market in London, to showcase Sharjah’s competitive advantages in the global and regional exhibition and business tourism sectors
Highlighting the emirate’s strong economic base, advanced infrastructure, and large-scale tourism initiatives and projects, Al Midfa pointed to Expo Sharjah’s key contribution in enriching Sharjah’s tourism sector. This is achieved by continually developing a comprehensive event agenda that spans specialised exhibitions and conferences in fields such as technology, education, tourism, and culture, thereby enhancing the emirate’s appeal to investors and visitors from around the world.
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