Tourism

Sharjah is positioning itself as a safe, family-friendly option for holidaymakers, with a selection of attractions and events the authorities hope will make it stand out from the crowd.

The recent Abu Dhabi Formula One (F1) Grand Prix helped the emirate’s policymakers achieve objectives both on a strategic and touristic level, but the government is eager to achieve even loftier tourism goals in 2011.

Although the two biggest tourism events of the year have yet to take place, Abu Dhabi’s hospitality sector is registering strong growth and making solid headway on meeting its annual growth target.

Indonesia’s premier tourism resort, Bali, is clicking back into gear after the global downturn slowed recovery from damaging terror attacks. In 2010, authorities are confident that increasing visitor numbers will bring greater revenues and sustainable development to the region.

As regional rivals suffered from instability and violence over the past year, Malaysia has strengthened its position as South-east Asia's top tourism destination, posting strong visitor numbers. Keeping pace with the rising demand will require constant upgrading of the travel infrastructure.

With some of the most unspoilt rainforest left anywhere on Earth and a firm commitment by the government to keep them that way, Brunei Darussalam’s pristine ecosphere has great potential to boost its tourism sector. It also presents a range of scientific research and development opportunities that could generate spin-offs in a number of industries.