Abu Dhabi Ambassador Programme Expands To 10 Organisations

More Than 60 To Graduate Next Month From ADTA Initiative

The Abu Dhabi Ambassador programme initiated by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has been expanded to take in 10 public and private sector organisations with some 67 Emirati participants now due to graduate from the knowledge-sharing cultural scheme within the next month.

Launched three years ago to engage Zayed University Students in the emirate’s tourism delivery experience, the scheme was expanded to take in public and private sector organisations at the front-line of visitor engagement.

“There has been strong support for the initiative with future destination ambassadors now progressing through the programme which involves them in completing 12 modules in 12 weeks,” explained Nasser Al Reyami, Tourism Standards Director, ADTA. “Indeed the initiative is proving so popular that we will stage a second programme later this year which will mean more than 100 new ‘tourism ambassadors’ will be certified by 2011.”

The ambassador programme is aimed at ensuring Emiratis in various job roles, including international visitor liaison, are kept fully up-to-date with destination developments so that they can provide exceptional service to their client base. Participating organisations include Etihad Airways, Department of Economic Development (DED), Abu Dhabi Customs, the Executive Affairs Authority as well as tourism major students currently working towards their Communications and Media Sciences degree at Zayed University.

“To ensure a culture of continuous learning, we will include graduating ambassadors on our future workshops, briefings and field trips so that they can to be continually updated,” said Al Reyami.

Some modules covered by the programme include site visits to various attractions, business tourism, international business etiquette and protocol, destination PR (public relations) as well as environmental and sustainable tourism.

For Majed Khalfan Al Badwawi, an executive in DED’s trade section, the programme significantly boosted his knowledge of the UAE capital.

“I have recently joined Abu Dhabi’s Dept of Economic Development and my knowledge of the various Abu Dhabi tourism facilities and venues was limited. This programme has given me important information which is helping me when I meet various trade delegations. I am now better prepared to represent Abu Dhabi,” he said.

Rabab Saif, Process Compliant Manager, Etihad Airways said the depth of the programme had been something of an eye-opener.

“I never knew Abu Dhabi had so many attractions. Since joining this programme I have visited places I do not even know existed,” she said. “I was also surprised at the number of attractions in Al Ain, which I never knew about even though I have visited the city before many times. I have learnt about new tourism facilities, which is helping me a lot in my work as I deal with tourists all the time.”
 

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