Abu Dhabi Launches “Specialist Program” for Travel Advisors
by Daine Taylor
The new learning platform educates advisors on destination-related information about the emirate. Photo: Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi
The Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi is launching a new Abu Dhabi Specialist Program designed to educate travel professionals about destination-related information to help them become certified Emirate travel experts.
The program is comprised of a series of online courses designed specifically for members of the travel trade industry, such as tour operators, travel agents and suppliers. These courses teach about the major attractions, local events, and accommodations that advisors should be familiar with if they plan on selling Abu Dhabi.
“The Abu Dhabi Specialist Program is a significant step forward and through it we will be able to reach a larger number of travel trade agents across the globe, including previously untapped markets like Canada,” said HE Saood Al Hosani, Acting Undersecretary for DCT Abu Dhabi.
“This training and education platform ensures that all participating industry partners have easy and quick access to the latest content on Abu Dhabi, thus making the destination promotion aspect of their job much easier.”
The Specialist Program is a part of Abu Dhabi’s official response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and aims to engage the wider community of travel professionals, to give them the tools to be knowledgeable in all things Abu Dhabi, through education, training and certification.
Currently, this platform is only available to travel professionals in the U.S. and Canada, but the global initiative will be rolled out in phases to reach different markets in countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, India, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and Russia.
Those who graduate from the program will receive access to rewards section which features incentive programs exclusively available to Abu Dhabi Specialists. U.S. and Canadian travel professionals who graduate from the Specialist Program, will also be entered in a drawing for the chance to win a five-start trip for two to Abu Dhabi in 2021.
