First batch of ADIC graduates felicitated

Organized by the ADTA from 17-21 September, ADIC was aimed at providing workers in the leisure and hospitality industry in Abu Dhabi with the necessary skills to handle the ever growing tourist influx to the emirate. The trainees also received professional and enhanced knowledge about the UAE tourism profile in general and Abu Dhabi in particular.

The graduates were felicitated by ADTA Marketing Manager Ali Al Hosani and Nasser Al Rayami, Acting Director of the Licensing Department in a ceremony held at the Armed Officers Club.
Over 100 trainees attended the conference which was the first ever in the UAE. Only 65 received certificates. Top achievers among the participants were awarded certificates as well as prizes.

"The conference targeted hotel concierge, guest relations and training managers with the view of integrating various elements of tourism so as to deal with tourists professionally on the basis of acceptable international standards", said Al Hosani.

He added that ADIC 2006 is the latest initiative by the ADTA to provide unique opportunity for its tourism and hospitality industry partners to increase their knowledge on a variety of relevant topics pertaining to the emirate of Abu Dhabi in particular and the UAE in general. The programme, he said, was conceived by the ADTA following the success of an earlier programme targeting tourists guides in Abu Dhabi.

"If ADIC has achieved its goals, then it would add value to the tourism industry in Abu Dhabi, particularly if the participants had benefited from the programme and gained relevant and correct information pertaining to Abu Dhabi's infrastructure, environment, culture, heritage and tourist attractions", said Al Hosani, adding that the conference underscored the keenness of the ADTA to boost the industry, especially in the area of human resources development.

Nasser Al Reyami said the conference was designed in such a way as to enable the participants to embrace a new level of confidence in their ability to research and present Abu Dhabi information to their clients in a more professional manner.

The conference covered a wide-range of topics during the four-day course that included Research Techniques and presenting information , Culture and Heritage, Architectural Heritage of the UAE, UAE Cultural Awareness, Ancient History of Abu Dhabi , Identifying tourist attractions and activities, Geography & Sustainable Development of the UAE.

The participants also undertook field visits which included, among other sites, Abu Dhabi City Tour including Cultural Foundation, Qasr Al Hosn and Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Al Ain National Museum and adjacent Fort, Hili Archaeological Park, Al Ain Oasis and Al Ain Palace Museum
The exciting and intense 4-day programme planned by the ADTA was widely hailed by the participants.

Ansuwaria Vinaw, one of the graduates who works at the customer relations section at Sheraton, in Khalidiya said: "The knowledge that I have gained during this conference would have taken me longer years to obtain. As a result of this conference, my knowledge of Abu Dhabi has improved a lot and I will now be able to provide better and more accurate services to the clients".

Rami Ashi, Customer Care Section at Le Meridian Abu Dhabi said the conference had fundamentally changed his perception of Abu Dhabi.
"What I found striking about this conference is the long-standing history of Abu Dhabi the civilization that had flourished in this land. This is something that I didn't know at all. I'm now more confident".

His view was echoed by Nadir Ahmed of Raha Beach, who said he had found the conference very useful in terms of the activities that were included in the programme. Nuzha Osman, a new comer to Abu Dhabi who works in the same hotel said she had benefited a lot from the conference as she did not know much about the UAE capital.

"I'm pleased about the opportunity given to me through this conference. It has truly boosted my knowledge of Abu Dhabi and I'm now confident of delivering accurate information to visitors", said Reen Nakar of the Mafraq Hotel.