First batch tourism students set to graduate

dubai — Visiting the most popular landmarks all over Dubai, riding on a city sightseeing bus, touring around malls and going to theme parks — these may sound like the activities of a typical tourist. But, in fact, these are also part of a student’s curriculum at the Dubai College of Tourism (DCT).

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) launched the DCT last year to help grow and develop professionals in the emirate’s tourism industry.

The first batch of students from DCT are set to graduate later this year and are aiming to join the tourism industry. The DCT offers certificates in five sectors in the industry, including tourism, culinary arts, events, retail and hospitality.

Arbina, a student at DCT, said her studies at the college includes theoretical and on-thefield training.

“During the practical bits of the programme, we were treated like tourists to give us a better idea of what tourists expect. We were taken on the Big Bus tours, we visited the most important landmarks in Dubai and we went to the Dubai Parks and Resorts. We were taken around like tourists, but, we were also taught how these different sectors work,” Arbina said.

Essa bin Hadher, general manager at DCT, said that the college offers vocational educational and was designed to achieve Dubai’s strategy for 20 million visitors by 2020.

“It’s a compound of programmes and they provide work experience, internships and onfield training in the industry itself. The idea reflects what they study theoretically. The practice part of is to make them feel and experience what they have been taught. It’s to help them gain a better understanding how to be treated like a tourist and what the expectations are of a tourist. We have to make them have a taste of the expectation of the tourists so that the experience shakes hands with what they learned theoretically,” he said.

Hadher said there are more opportunities in the tourism industry now than ever before, as well as easier access into jobs. He said that the DCT has also received interest internationally as people view Dubai as a leader when it comes to tourism.

“This is an opportunity for them to gear up for an industry that is growing at a tremendous rate. For the nationals and residents here, it’s only about time to find an open door for them,” Hadher said.

Dubai has a vision of attracting 20 million visitors by 2020 and make it the most visited city in the world, as well employ more than 500,000 tourism professionals by then. Tourism contributes $60billion to the UAE economy.

During the practical bits of the programme, we were treated like tourists to give us a better idea of what tourists expect.” Arbina, student, Dubai College of Tourism