Sharjah showcases its tourist destinations at ITB Berlin 2025
The event, held from March 4 to 6 at the Berlin Exhibition Centre, is under the theme 'The World of Travel Lives Here.' SCTDA participation aims to highlight Sharjah's unique tourist attractions, solidifying its position on the global tourism map.
Interactive pavilion showcasing Sharjah's attractions
At the exhibition, Sharjah's distinguished pavilion offers visitors an interactive journey to explore the emirate's natural, cultural, and recreational destinations, including desert, mountainous, and coastal areas, heritage sites, and modern landmarks. This immersive experience showcases the exceptional tourism offerings of the emirate.
Sharjah's position as a prominent tourist destination
His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, emphasised the exhibition's importance in presenting Sharjah's diverse landmarks, rich culture, and advanced infrastructure. He highlighted the strong historical relations between Sharjah and Europe, particularly Germany, positioning the emirate as a prime destination for European and German tourists seeking unique cultural experiences.
Participants and collaborative approach to tourism development
The Sharjah delegation includes representatives from key government entities such as the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah International Airport Authority, and Sharjah Museums Authority, alongside private sector participants including Air Arabia and Sharjah National Hotels. The collaborative approach reflects Sharjah's commitment to developing its tourism and travel sectors.
Ongoing efforts in sustainable and cultural tourism
During the event, the Sharjah delegation will also showcase the emirate's efforts in sustainable tourism, ecotourism, adventure tourism, and cultural tourism, which have enhanced Sharjah's position as a regional tourism leader. The pavilion emphasises initiatives aimed at preserving cultural and environmental heritage while offering world-class tourism experiences.
Increased tourism from Europe and Germany
Sharjah's participation in ITB Berlin 2025 is a significant opportunity to attract more visitors from Europe and beyond. The emirate has seen a notable increase in German hotel guests, with around 13,000 German visitors in 2023 and expectations for a rise to 14,000 in 2024. The number of European tourists is also growing, with a 16% increase in 2024, reflecting Sharjah's growing appeal to international travelers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
10 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Beijing proposes leasing export of rare earths to EU
7 June 2025 14:35 Beijing (AFP)China has proposed establishing a 'green channel' to ease the export of rare earths to the European Union, the commerce ministry said Saturday, after Beijing restricted their sale has since April required licenses to export these strategic materials from China, which accounts for more than 60 percent of rare earth mining production and 92 percent of global refined output, according to the International Energy metals are used in a wide variety of products, including electric car batteries, and there has been criticism from industries about the way China's licenses have been issued.'Export control on rare earths and other items is an international practice,' the commerce ministry said in a statement.'China attaches great importance to Europe's concerns and is willing to establish a green channel for eligible applications, fast track the examination and approval, and instruct the working level to maintain timely communication on this,' a ministry statement comments were attributed to China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, who met Tuesday with EU trade commissioner Maros the bilateral talks, Wang said he hoped the bloc would turn 'take reciprocal action, adopt effective measures to facilitate, safeguard, and promote compliant trade of high-tech products with China,' according to the commerce two officials also discussed imports by European countries of Chinese electric vehicles, which the EU has hit with levies over allegedly unfair subsidies from Beijing.'The negotiation on the price commitment of electric vehicles between China and Europe has entered the final stage, but both sides still need to make efforts,' the commerce ministry said. The discussions will be followed by China hosting a summit with the EU next month, 50 years since Beijing and Brussels established diplomatic relations.
Gulf Today
12 hours ago
- Gulf Today
The rate is in a safe neutral position
The European Central Bank has reduced the interest rate to 2 per cent from 2.25 per cent, and it seems to have completed the cycle of reduction of rates from 4.25 per cent in June 2024. Markets are betting that the central bank would not reduce any further when it meets in July. The rate is now in a neutral position, where it can neither stimulate growth nor serve as a restraint. Bank president Christine Lagarde said at a press conference, 'At the current level we believe we are in a good position to navigate the uncertain circumstances that will be coming up.' She also said that the bank does not have any pre-determined position on the rate path, and it will take things as they turn out. The two major challenges that the European Union (EU) faces is the slow growth in the economy on the continent, and the tariffs that US President Donald Trump had announced on European imports as he did on imports from all American trade partners. European leaders are looking to negotiations but they have taken a firm position that they will not capitulate to the tariff threats of Washington. Because of lower economic growth, inflation is also aligned to the interest rate. There is however no clear monetary strategy to handle the present state of the European economy. The obvious way forward is to lower interest still further – and there is room for that between the existing 2 per cent and zero interest rate – to revive domestic investment demand. The problem that the European economy is facing is the pressure on its exports, which is a major anchor for European economic growth. In the May World Economic Outlook (WEO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that the euro area will grow by 0.8 per cent in 2025 and by 1.2 per cent in 2026. There is 0.2 per cent reduction in the growth projection for the two years since the January 2025 WEO. Though the Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe (CESEE) seems to be doing slightly better than the advanced European economies, the projected figures show a slowing down of growth. For CESEE, it shows a growth of 2.4 per cent for 2025, a reduction by 0.6 per cent, and 2.7 per cent in 2026, a reduction by 0.4 per cent from the January projections. Europe's economic woes precede Trump's tariff onslaught. And the reasons are many. One of the major issues is the demography. The ageing population impacts the workforce, and the governments are burdened with social security commitments. It is surprising that the anti-immigrant right-wing parties have been making political headway in the elections across the continent. What Europe needs is an immigration policy to reinforce its workforce, and the skilling of the immigrants to take their place in the factories. But the governments do not have a policy of integrating the immigrants into the workforce. The second major issue is the burden of climate change and the energy transition that many of the EU members are committed to make. The plain fact is that Europe cannot hope to continue with the old fossil fuel-based production processes. The climate change processes involve financial commitments and the results will be slow in showing in terms of cleaning up the air, the rivers, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. And more importantly, the global markets are changing, and the slowdown of exports will affect the European economy more than ever. The challenges that Europe faces are formidable. And the political responses have been quite erratic. The rise of right-wing political parties with their outdated notions that there is no climate change and that immigrants pose a problem to the prosperity of Europe is not really helpful.
Al Etihad
15 hours ago
- Al Etihad
China allows limited exports of rare earths as shortages continue
7 June 2025 09:39 BEIJING (THE NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE)China's Ministry of Commerce has started issuing more export licenses for shipments of rare earth magnets in recent days, but the pace remains factories in the automotive sector and other industries in Europe and the United States, and a few in Japan, are running low on the makes 90% of the world's supply of these magnets, which are essential for cars, drones, factory robots, missiles and many other a 90-minute call Thursday with Chinese PresidentXi Jinping, US President Donald Trump wrote on social media that the two men had discussed rare earths. Trump mentioned that rare earths were a complex subject, but did not indicate whether anything had been decided about China's strict export licensing requirement, which Beijing imposed April wrote on social media Friday that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US trade representative Jamieson Greer would hold further economic talks Monday in London with top Chinese Trump was asked later on Air Force One whether Xi had agreed to allow rare earth minerals and magnets to flow to the US, Trump replied, 'Yes, he did,' but did not statement Thursday about the call did not mention rare earths, however. Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, declined to answer a question about the minerals Friday at the ministry's daily briefing, saying that it was a matter for other Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Thursday before the two leaders spoke only that it would issue export licenses according to its new rules, introduced two months US and European chambers of commerce in China each said Friday that somewhat more export licenses had been issued in recent days. But both groups emphasised that more were needed, as the Ministry of Commerce faces a huge backlog of detailed applications for licenses. Rare earth metals, a group of 17 elements found near the bottom of the periodic table, have a wide range of industrial applications. China produces practically the entire world's supply of seven of the least common rare earths, including three that are crucial in making powerful, heat-resistant magnets.
