Bucking global trends, Sharjah continues to attract visitors from around the world in growing numbers, recording a surge in tourist numbers in the first half of Year 2011. A total of 768,061 tourists visited the emirate with hotels and hotel apartments recorded 75 per cent occupancy in the first six months of the current year, according to statistics released by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority on Tuesday. The report also shows a 16 per cent jump in the number of hotel room nights and hotel apartment room nights from 784,342 last year to 908,309 this year. The number of room nights is a standard method of evaluating the hotel occupancy. With a total number of 768,061 guests staying in the emirate’s 106 hotel establishments (46 hotels and 60 hotel apartments), an overall increase of 3 per cent in guest numbers was registered. The guests were roughly split between hotels and hotel apartments with 409,285 staying in hotels and 358,776 choosing to stay in hotel apartments. Article continues below The half-yearly statistics report suggests that the tourism sector in Sharjah continues to be influenced and driven by its celebrated tourist attractions, heritage, cultural activities and fun and games events, not to mention numerous special offerings and promotions by hotel establishments. Following visitor patterns in recent years, the Europeans once again took the lion’s share at 40 per cent with some 305,226 tourists from Europe visiting the emirate in the first half of 2011. Amongst the Europeans, Russian tourists lead with 24 per cent. The Europeans were closely followed by the GCC tourists (29 per cent) with some 225,478 people visiting the emirate. The Saudis once again lead from the front with 27 per cent of GCC visitors coming from the largest country in the group. Arab visitors from other countries across the Middle East formed 10 per cent (78,810) whereas the number of Asian visitors stood at 35,764 or 18 per cent. The Americans, the Africans and Scandinavian tourists formed 3 per cent of the visiting tourist population so far this year. Commenting on the half-yearly statistics, SCTDA Director General Mohamed A. Al Noman said that these numbers are a testament to the growth and resilience of Sharjah’s tourism sector and efforts of the SCTDA. “We have been pursuing clearly defined goals and strategies, constantly working to bring visitors from around the globe and bolster the tourist flow into the emirate,” he emphasised. “We are dedicated to boosting Sharjah\'s status as a complete holiday destination and consolidating its position on the global tourism map.” The SCTDA has been targeting emerging tourism markets and on organising events and activities that will contribute significantly to tourism promotion, said Al Noman drawing attention to the emirate’s regular participation in high profile travel and trade events and exhibitions and promotion tours across the world. “This year we have stepped up our efforts to target local, regional and international tourism markets. The Sharjah Light Festival, held in February this year, was the first of its kind in the Middle East celebrating the emirate’s magnificent monuments and landmarks. The Sharjah Light Festival, conducted by European technicians and artistes, attracted more than 90,000 residents and foreign visitors to the emirate during the nine nights of the festival. “Following our successful participations in several global events and exhibitions this year, the SCTDA is working on a number of major local tourist projects to boost the emirate’s tourism sector and strengthen it with all the necessary facilities improving services provided to tourists and residents,” said the Director General. Al Noman added: “We are working on expanding tourism activities that boost the emirate’s economy by enhancing the coordination between public and private sectors. We are encouraging the private sector to boost tourism facilities and services in the emirate. A number of hotels and resorts such as Khor Fakkan Hotel and Resort and a number of environment and entertainment activities will enhance the tourism and hospitality sector keeping pace with the increasing number of tourists in the emirate.”