The new e-learning platform will be available to travel trade partners in the United States and Canada

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 5, 2020: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) today announced the launch of the 'Abu Dhabi Specialist Program', an e-learning platform which will educate travel trade industry professionals with all destination-related information about the emirate through a series of online courses that will allow them to become certified trained agents. To celebrate the launch of the program, DCT Abu Dhabi will offer U.S. and Canadian travel professionals the opportunity to win a five-star trip for two persons to visit Abu Dhabi in 2021.

The program is part of a global initiative being rolled out in three phases in several languages across 17 markets, including the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and Russia, as well as GCC countries. The first phase was launched on May 4, in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India. 

Designed specifically for industry partners such as tour operators, travel agents 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 jointly with its inspirational campaign #StayCurious.

“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 at 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 courses encompassed in the program cover information related to key attractions in Abu Dhabi, local events, accommodation options and much more. Additionally, it includes a rewards section featuring incentive programs, exclusively available for 'Abu Dhabi Specialists' – travel trade agents who graduate from the main program. For U.S. and Canadian travel professionals, this means a chance to win a five-start trip to Abu Dhabi in 2021 for two persons, across two prize draws during this year.    

The Abu Dhabi Specialist Program is now available for travel trade professionals on www.abudhabispecialist.com.

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About the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi

The Department of Culture and Tourism conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction, which enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The organisation manages the emirate's tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and Louvre Abu Dhabi. DCT Abu Dhabi also supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate's heritage. A key role is to create synergy in the destination's development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.