DCT Abu Dhabi highlights focus on excellence through ‘Sustainability and Competitiveness’ conference

ABU DHABI / WAM

DCT Abu Dhabi and UNWTO Academy held a conference on tourism excellence at St. Regis Abu Dhabi. They introduced UNWTO.QUEST and UNWTO.TedQual Certifications for quality assurance in tourism.
Titled ‘Sustainability and Competitiveness: Tourism Potentials and Challenges’, the conference held in collaboration with the World Tourism Organisation’s Academy (UNWTO Academy), brought together experts in sustainability and tourism, and helped attendees develop an understanding of the role of diversity, equity, inclusion, sustainability, and strategic leadership in enhancing destination competitiveness.
The conference agenda discussed practices and strategies that could be adopted by tourism stakeholders to contribute to the development of more a competitive and responsible tourism destination. Among the attendees were Hala Khaled Al Ameri, Executive Director of the Competitiveness Office of Abu Dhabi (COAD) at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development; Hanan Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre; and Ammar Anwar Sajwani, Director of Tourism Development Department, UAE Ministry of Economy.
Saeed Ali Obaid Al Fazari, Executive Director of Strategic Affairs at DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “Through various initiatives, we are enabling industry-wide discussions that contribute to a sustainable tourism future. With a focus on education, we are keen to deliver continued tourism excellence, channelling innovation through a fresh lens. Encouraging these vital discussions is key to creating enduring, meaningful, and impactful change for Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector and delivering our vision for the future. The academic programme and certifications are in alignment with DCT Abu Dhabi’s commitment to advancing the tourism industry and empowering young individuals.”
Hala Khaled Al Ameri, Executive Director of the Competitiveness Office of Abu Dhabi (COAD) at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, added, “In a remarkable event today, we witnessed the transformative power of collaboration, showcasing the pivotal role it plays in enhancing Abu Dhabi’s competitiveness. This serves as a testament to the success achieved through our partnership with DCT Abu Dhabi, reinforcing the value of working together for a stronger, more prosperous future.”
The event had keynote speakers from UNWTO Academy and UNWTO.QUEST Certification. 65 DCT Abu Dhabi employees and 35 stakeholders completed 120 hours of training on tourism leadership and sustainability. Carol Hay, Chief Tourism Officer at McKenzie Gayle Limited spoke on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, while Dr. Svetla Ivanova Stoyanova-Bozhkova, Principal Academic in Strategic Management, discussed sustainability in tourism. DCT Abu Dhabi and UNWTO Academy introduced UNWTO.TedQual for quality tourism education.