Indian Airlines and the Sharjah government on Monday launched special holiday packages to promote the United Arab Emirates as a prominent tourist destination for Indian tourists.
"Besides being a shopping destination, we have everything from history, culture, beaches and sporting attractions all in a family-friendly and culturally sensitive environment," Mohamed Al Noman, director of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, said at a roadshow in New Delhi.
The packages are priced competitively between Rs 14,770 to Rs 23,495 per person, inclusive of airfare and two nights' stay.
For the Indian Airlines which is offering the packages as part of its golden jubilee celebrations, Sharjah is the largest base for operations outside India.
Indian Airlines operates 26 flights a week to Sharjah, linking it directly to 13 cities, including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calicut, Coimbatore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, Amritsar and Lucknow.
The Sharjah packages, designed along the same lines as Indian Airlines Flyaway packages, have been put together with the participation of the local hotel and hospitality industry.
The travellers can get air and hotel bookings, as also visas, directly from the travel agents after their visa applications are screened by the Sharjah authorities.
Sharjah Airport Authority Director Ali Al Midfa said they would also give discount coupons to those availing the packages for renowned shopping malls at Sharjah as well as the duty-free shops at the airport. While Sharjah Airport Travel Agency would be the nodal office, STIC travels of India would be the general sales agent for the package.