Sharjah has joined some of the world’s top tourist cities with sightseeing tour buses now ferrying tourists around the emirate’s main attractions, the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has announced. The tours, which operate in 98 other cities across five continents, will begin with three double-decker buses as part of phase I of the project, with the number of buses to be increased in line with demand later on. The buses, which can take 72 people each, will operate seven days a week all year long at a ?cost of Dh85 for adults and Dh45 for children, with tickets valid for 24 hours. On the occasion, Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, chief operating officer of Shurooq, said: “We have already started the operation of City Sightseeing Sharjah tours, a move that comes in line with Shurooq’s strategy for 2013, as well as with its commitment to continually adding value to Sharjah’s tourism experience. “The service is...helping to highlight Sharjah’s premier tourist attractions and heritage sites, as well as the immense efforts being exerted by all sectors involved in tourism in presenting Sharjah’s development to the world. “We expect to see a quick increase in the number of holidaymakers making use of this service in light of the programme of bus tours, which has been designed to suit a range of tastes, with special care taken to cater to the needs of families.” Al Qaseer clarified that the bus service will make 18 stops at tourist and cultural destinations across Sharjah. The scheduled stops will include the Central Souq, Marbella Resort, Al Noor Mosque, Al Majaz Waterfront, Buhaira Corniche, Al Qasba, Sharjah Aquarium, Al Khan Corniche/Beaches, the Fish Market, the Heart of Sharjah, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Radisson BLU Resort, Clock Square, and Mega Mall. Each tour will take about one hour and 15 minutes to complete, with passengers having the option to get on and off the bus at any of the stops as many times as they please within the 24-hour validity of their ticket. The buses will also include an audio guide, available in German, Russian, English and Arabic. Five more languages — Chinese, Spanish, Urdu, Hindi, and French — are to be added in the future. From KhaleejTimes