Tourism Breaking News
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) celebrated the graduation of 57 Emirati students from its Tourism Youth Summer Camp 2024. This initiative aligns with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and the newly launched Tourism Strategy 2030 by empowering over 60 students annually to drive growth in the emirate’s tourism and hospitality sector. Completing its 11th edition this summer, the two-week programme introduced participants aged 16–21 to Abu Dhabi’s tourism and hospitality sector.
The graduation was attended by participants, their families, key industry partners, and government officials, including: Fergus Bugg, Senior Vice President of Guest Experience at Miral Destinations, Salama Al Shamsi, Culture Sites Management Department Director at DCT Abu Dhabi, Ziad Makhlouf, Director of HR at Abu Dhabi National Hotels, Amna Al Suwaidi, Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (NAFIS); Maral Jule Bedoyan, Education and Learning Resources Manager at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Saleh Al Geziry, Director General of Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Across 11 highly successful editions of the Tourism Summer Youth Camp, DCT Abu Dhabi has strategically fostered growth within the sector, fulfilling our mandate to build capacity and meet tourism demand now and for years to come. We are proactively encouraging and engaging talented Emiratis, who represent the future of travel and hospitality in Abu Dhabi. We are committed to championing our youth, ensuring they are empowered to contribute to the sustainable development and economic growth of the emirate.”
During their five-day placement at 22 prestigious Abu Dhabi hotels (ranging from 4- to 5-star), students rotated through various departments, including the front desk, food and beverage service, kitchen, recreation, and events. This experience provided them with a comprehensive understanding of the diverse components of the hospitality industry.
The workshops and activities the students participated in included a Business Etiquette Session, an Excellent Customer Service Workshop, a Team Building Workshop, a visit to Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, and an activity at the House of Artisans, Hosn.
Participants completed a group project that tackled real-life case studies on challenges and gaps within the tourism industry, focusing on developing innovative solutions aligned with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030.
DCT Abu Dhabi’s Strategic Workforce and Emiratisation team divided the participants into groups, each assigned a capstone project: Planning Extraordinary Events, Authentic Emirati Visitor Experience, Sector Emiratisation, Marketing & Campaigns Strategy, and Developing the Cultural Tourism Sector. Projects were evaluated on criteria such as innovation, creativity, technological integration, communication skills, and ease of implementation. The winning team, comprising of 11 participants, presented an exceptional case study on the importance of sustainable tourism. They were honoured by Laila Radwan Al Ali, Head of the Sector Localisation and Capacity Development Department at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, during the graduation ceremony.
To achieve its ambitions, the Tourism Strategy aims to create over 178,000 new jobs by 2030, in which Emirati industry professionals stand to play a pivotal role. The Tourism Youth Summer Camp aims to inspire future generations of national talent to explore opportunities in the rapidly growing sector, develop essential professional skills, and contribute to securing Abu Dhabi’s status as a global tourism hub.
Under the Tourism Strategy 2030, Abu Dhabi aims to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the national GDP to AED 90 billion by 2030 and its tourism target to 39.3 million visitors. Abu Dhabi has several projects in the pipeline in line with its vision and strategic pillars, from the highly anticipated Zayed National Museum to the launch of new events, festivals, and hotels.
