Residents’ online campaign promotes Fujairah to the world

FUJAIRAH // Two passionate residents have launched an online campaign to boost tourism in the northern emirate.

ILoveFujairah, a website and Facebook page, targets domestic and international tourists, inviting them to take a look at the possibilities that exist in the picturesque emirate.

Aishah Yousef, chief executive of En Route Media Inc, and artist Peter Marco designed the campaign to promote the emirate through social media.

They have asked residents to express their love for Fujairah and post helpful information about upcoming events and places to stay and dine.

“We came up with this idea to encourage business investors, entrepreneurs and tourists to take more interest in Fujairah and to consider it as a getaway or a good place to start a new business. We invite them to come and experience the original lifestyle of the emirate in all its unique raw beauty away from the glitz, glamour and over-the-top excesses of other emirates,” said Ms Yousef, a 40-year-old Filipina.

“We created a simple website for people to see what’s happening in the city, from events to available hotels and restaurants.”

So far, the pair have linked the website to several tourism boards in Russia, China, Japan and the US to encourage tourists and business investors from outside to visit.

“We have the support of Fujairah Municipality, tourism authority and the rest of the community. Everybody is engaged in this campaign in and out of the city to spread the news that Fujairah is not just a small city where we don’t have anything. Instead, we have beautiful beaches, historical forts and mountains,” said Ms Yousef, who has been living in the emirate for the past 15 years.

“I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. This is my second home and I feel it’s part of my duty to help the city grow and prosper,” she said.

Mr Marco, an American, has been living in Fujairah since January.

“Fujairah is a very beautiful and peaceful city,” he said. “It’s a nice getaway that allows you to leave your cares behind and enjoy, especially for those who are used to living a fast pace of life. The selling point of Fujairah is the untouched, retained cultural heritage that hasn’t been polluted by foreign influence,” he said.

“Our technique is so simple. All we are doing is showing the world how residents of Fujairah love it and why, by posting their photos holding the ‘ILoveFujairah’ sign on social media with a big smile and a small note expressing their love to the city which they call home despite their nationalities or backgrounds.”

Mr Marco has designed an official logo for the campaign featuring the mountains and art that symbolise the emirate’s rich cultural identity.

“Our future plans will include arranging events and art exhibitions that will help promote the city, like the upcoming Fujairah Rocks art exhibition where we will be displaying painted rocks that have been extracted from the mountains. All the fund-raising (proceeds) will go to disability centres in the area.”

The site is at www.facebook.com/ilovefujairahuae. For more information, visit www.ilovefujairah.org.

rhaza@thenational.ae