The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (DTA) has unveiled an innovative virtual training programme targeting travel agents in the United Kingdom. The programme is one of the most important ADTA initiatives. It is aimed at bringing tour operators in the UK on board and get them to participate in the massive drive of promoting Abu Dhabi as a top tourist destination.

Latest technological innovations in the sphere of communications and training have been employed to enable the trainees acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to promote Abu Dhabi in their respective areas.

The importance attached to this programme by the ADTA stems from the fact that tour operators or travel agents do not only act as a vital `bridge` matching supply and demand but also because they can play a key role in stimulating new and increased demand for a destination.

The programme was envisioned as part of the ADTA strategy to sustain the current tourism boom in Abu Dhabi emirate. The six-month long training programme is hoped to develop an exclusive club of specialist tour operators and travel agents who would be agile in marketing Abu Dhabi in the global tourism industry.

Additionally, the programme will serve as the main pillar for building a strong tourism partnership between travel agents and tour operators in the UK with their counterparts in Abu Dhabi. The programme will equip the trainees with the knowledge and skills to woo tourist groups to Abu Dhabi. Further still, the programme which will be implemented in phases, will reinforce different aspects of cooperation between participants from the UK and their colleagues in the tourism sector in Abu Dhabi.

Commenting on the programme ADTA Director General Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi said the participants will receive preferential offers during the mega promotions in addition to having direct access to latest tourism products in Abu Dhabi.

One of the key objectives of the progarmme is to establish a comprehensive data base. It will start with subscribers from the UK and will be expanded later to others in Europe. The database will provide accurate information about members, their interests and needs, said Muhairi.

He revealed that the ADTA is poised to establish a virtual club on the website of the programme which will be launched soon. The club will act as a forum for members to interact and discuss tourism issues in the emirate. The forum will be the intermediary between the participants and the programme which will include specially designed training modules.

As part of the programme, incentives schemes aimed at increasing sales will be created and accordingly the most active partners will be rewarded for their efforts to promote Abu Dhabi. They will also be awarded certificates and consequently enjoy the benefits of becoming Abu Dhabi Champions.

The programme has already attracted the attention of many tourism institutions in the UK. These include tourism information centres, major tourism firms, airlines, tour operators and agents. So far, 183 participants have registered, accounting for 73 per cent of those who attended the launch of the programme. Some 400 others will join by registering directly on the website, explained Al Muhairi.

For his part, ADTA Marketing Manager Ali Ahmed Al Hosani said that the programme will be widely marketed in major cities in the UK and other European countries, which have tourism and economic ties with the UAE in general and Abu Dhabi emirate in particular.

The kind of interaction among the participants involved in this programme will sharpen the awareness of our national cadres on the needs of the other parties , thereby saving a lot of time and energy. This will boost confidence, enhance marketing opportunities, and maximise results. Thus, Abu Dhabi will prominently prevail in the global tourism calendar not only as a result of its local promoters but also as result of the good work and efforts of its worldwide travel agents and tour operators, Al Hosani concluded.