IN a bid to attract greater number of tourists and businessmen, Sharjah is all set to launch its first e-guide and directory.
Called See Sharjah, the e-guide will provide comprehensive information to visitors and residents (consumers or investors) and will serve as an indispensable tool for both government and the private sector, it was announced at a recent press conference.
Speaking about the project, Abdul Aziz Al Midfa, chairman, See Sharjah, said, ‘We felt there was an enormous gap in information. Tourism is no more limited to leisure alone. Sharjah is fast emerging as a key business, industry, property, finance, education, health, culture, MICE and sports destination.
Over a million people visit Sharjah annually for different purposes. We understand today, business success is dependant on fast and easy access to information. It is time to tidy up the task of searching. See Sharjah is a unique product providing precise information – structured on the wants and needs of the user.’
The See Sharjah project is being supported by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, Economic Development Department, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the ministries of education and health, Sharjah Municipality, the Department of Culture and Information and the Sharjah Sport Council.
Elaborating on the guide’s format, Heballah Habib, director, See Sharjah said, ‘See Sharjah will be launched in nine different DVDs, each containing an e-guide and an e-directory. Both the guide and the directory will deliver in-depth information pertaining to each of the areas.
Basically, our objective was to integrate and organise the data in the most efficient way. Each speciality is well defined with a neat, user-friendly format which enables us to communicate with the different target audience.”
The nine specialities fields are leisure, education, health, investment (industry), investment (property, finance and agriculture), commercial, culture, sport and MICE.
The guide will also highlight opportunities and incentives for investment in the emirate.
Heballah stressed, ‘It is virtually impossible for individuals and companies to keep using traditional methods of information. See Sharjah will provide to the point, easy-to-access information to the tourist or resident, who is also a potential investor and businessman.
Hence, it will not be necessary for the tourist to search for ways of getting what he or she wants or dig into a mountain of information. A simple click of the mouse will guide the user to the relevant service provider.’
Initially 900,000 copies (100,000 for each field) will be produced in Arabic and in English, and will be given free to all Sharjah government departments and private sector companies. It will also be available from strategic locations and tourist attractions including at the airport, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and cafes.