KwB showcases region’s reading culture at world’s leading travel trade fair

Sharjah / Emirates Business

Knowledge without Borders (KwB), a Sharjah-based cultural initiative, is continuing to share its insights and experiences with visitors to ITB Berlin 2017, the world’s leading travel trade show, which runs from March 8-12, in Berlin, Germany.
KwB is illustrating its rich and creative presence to the visitors, experts and delegates at the fair with a wide range of Emirati and Arab cultural products on display, while highlighting their efforts to promote books, literature and reading as a noble habit, and supporting authors through a spectrum of different projects.
KwB’s stand, which is participating at the event as part of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority’s pavilion, has received a lot of interest. Visitors have praised KwB’s different initiatives, especially ‘1001 Titles’, which was launched in February 2016 to enhance intellectual and cultural products in the UAE, ensure the sustainability of the publishing industry and support Emirati authors and publishers.
The ‘Home Library’ project has also drawn considerable attention. Many of the delegates have praised the project’s efforts to enhance knowledge, science and culture through distributing more than 42,300 books among all Emirati household in Sharjah.
Rashid Al Kous, General Manager of KwB, said: “Our participation in ITB Berlin, the biggest-of-its-kind event in the world, is a great opportunity to promote intellectual and cultural Emirati products to a huge potential audience. The number of visitors this year is expected to reach 120,000.
“Culture and tourism have always been interconnected, and our presence here paves the way for visitors to learn about cultural elements in the Arab world in general and in Sharjah in particular. We hope that this will contribute to attracting more tourists to the emirate where they will discover its intellectual treasures, museums and cultural attractions,” Al Kous added.
Every year, ITB Berlin attracts thousands of visitors, professionals and experts from the global tourism sector to discuss industry trends and explore creating strategic partnerships. They promote the travel and tourism industry’s different sectors and forms in their respective countries including leisure, medical, family, retail and business tourism. This year, ITB Berlin is expected to receive more than 10,000 exhibitors from over 180 countries.
KwB was launched by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. It is closely supervised and supported by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Head of KwB’s Organising Committee. KwB aims to promote a robust culture of reading in every Emirati household by establishing home libraries and supplying them with the best books of various genres and areas of knowledge suitable for all family members.