The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has this week rolled out its ‘Abu Dhabi Specialist Program’, an e-learning platform to educate travel trade industry professionals with all destination-related information about the Emirate through a series of online courses.
Australian and New Zealand travel agents are being encouraged to register and complete the online courses, with incentives such as four weekly prizes of $250 gift cards per week for six weeks and a final prize of a five-star holiday to Abu Dhabi, when it is suitable to travel.
It will be introduced in three phases in several languages across 17 markets, including the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Designed specifically for industry partners such as tour operators, travel advisors and wholesalers, the Abu Dhabi Specialist Program will equip travel trade professionals with accurate and relevant information about Abu Dhabi, supporting and encouraging them to promote the destination to consumers within their markets.
The initiative comes as part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, which brought all workshops and other forms of physical training to a halt. The new training and education program aims to reach a wider audience of travel trade agents worldwide. DCT Abu Dhabi has already conducted a series of virtual workshops and meetings since the coronavirus situation unfolded.
“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 and New Zealand,” said HE Saood Al Hosani, Acting Undersecretary at DCT Abu Dhabi.
DCT will be hosting online training webinars for travel advisors over three successive weeks so advisors can upskill during COVID-19. Afterwards, a fun Kahoot quiz will be held and three prizes will be given away following each webinar, sourced from the winners’ local area.
The webinars will be hosted every Tuesday at 10.30am AEST, covering the topics: Culture and Tradition, Action and Adventure and Family Fun.
Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi Country Manager Jennifer Gaskin said today, “Previously we’d be out on the road, meeting with travel agents and bringing information on Abu Dhabi to them, yet with that out of the question, we’re doing it virtually.”
Ms Gaskin said, “We know that everyone is feeling for their local businesses, so we thought this would provide local prizes for the webinar participants”.
Three gift vouchers supporting local businesses will be given out per webinar, purchased in consultation with the winners, to the values of $150 for first place, $100 for second, $50 for third.
Webinar details are as follows:
Week 1 – Tuesday 12 May at 10.30am AEST
Culture and Tradition – click here to register
Week 2 – Tuesday 19 May at 10.30am AEST
Action and Adventure – click here to register
Week 3 – Tuesday 26 May at 10.30am AEST
Family Fun – click here to register
The courses encompasses information related to key attractions in Abu Dhabi, local events, accommodation options and much more.
Learn more at abudhabispecialist.com
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