Abu Dhabi travel agency/tour operator licensing to go online from February 1

The move is the second phase of ADTA's online licensing strategy which aims to have web-based licensing for all tourism-related activities by 2010. It follows last year's introduction of online licensing for the emirate's hotels and hotel apartments.

"We are well on track for meeting our goal of providing web-based licensing for the entire industry spectrum by the beginning of next year,"

explained Nasser Al Reyami, Director Tourism Operations, ADTA.

"This is in line with the Abu Dhabi Government's plans for increased transparency and enhancing services to our vital stakeholders."

The online facility for travel agencies and tour operators will allow them to renew licences, renew their Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry licences, track key industry initiatives, activities and circulars and also pay any dues owed to the authority.

"We are providing a seamless service which does away with the need for physical visits to our offices, or those of the chamber as our system has been integrated with the ADCCI system, thereby saving the travel agencies and tour operators valuable time and enabling them to concentrate their resources on service provision," explained Al Reyami.

"Once they have correctly completed the online requirements, their renewed licences will be delivered to them within two or three days."

ADTA is now working on extending its web-based licensing facility to tourism restaurants and hotel management companies, which it hopes to finalise within months.

Online licensing is one of over 100 initiatives outlined by the ADTA is its five-year strategy to ensure managed growth for Abu Dhabi's tourism sector. The authority has held a workshop for travel agencies and tour operators within the emirate to familiarise them with the new online system.