The tourist flow to the UAE emirate of Sharjah rose 7% during the first five months of 2010, to the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority. The total number of guests staying in Sharjah's hotels and hotel apartments reached 637,390, compared to the 594,105 guests reported for the same period in 2009. Hotel occupancy rates saw a slight growth to 70% in the period, compared to 67% recorded in the corresponding period of 2009. The total number of room nights in the emirate's hotels and hotel apartments rose to 671,097 in 2010, compared to 621,910 room nights in the same period of 2009.