Nationals become 'welcoming face' of Abu Dhabi

Sixty-seven UAE nationals have passed a three-month tourism training programme set up by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) to become the ‘welcoming face’ of Abu Dhabi.

This was the largest group to take the course in its three year history and ADTA hopes that the growing interest in Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry among the local population will inspire more Emirati nationals to take up a career in tourism.

“The programme’s evolution says much about the way all sectors of our community are now embracing our Travellers Welcome promise,” said Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, ADTA. “The Abu Dhabi Ambassador alumni will expand annually and we hope that many of its university students will carve out careers in this emirate’s growing tourism industry. The programme is demonstrating, once again, this emirate’s inclusive approach to destination building and delivery of its brand commitment which Abu Dhabi Ambassadors are bringing to life.”

He added the new ambassadors “shouldered the responsibility of representing Abu Dhabi to the world.”

The course covered everything from business tourism and international business etiquette to site visits to various attractions around Abu Dhabi and Al Ain including Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace and an organic farm.

Muna Ali A. Al Harbi, Etihad Airways, graduate manager who took the programme said: “I learnt a lot of information. Before if any tourist asked me where should I go in Abu Dhabi I would tell them go to Marina Mall and the Corniche, you will have a great time, but now I have discovered there are so many other areas where travellers can go, more traditional places  – they can go to a mall anywhere in the world. But when you go to Abu Dhabi it’s more important to go to traditional places where you can see the history of Abu Dhabi.

Also for us the tourism industry is a huge thing – before we thought tourism is all about hotels. So now we have changed our minds, tourism is bigger than that. For the students on the course I think they would now consider going into tourism as a career."