DCTA staff get training in foreign languages

Communicating with international markets in their own mother tongue will expand our overseas offices’ capability to promote the emirate.” Saif Ghobash, official, DCTA

abu dhabi — The Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi (DCTA) has launched an advanced language-learning programme for its overseas employees.

The programme aims to support the tourism promotion operations carried out by the department’s regional offices in 10 countries around the world. The languages included are English, French, German, Hindi, Chinese and Arabic.

Mastering local languages is a highly effective tool in tourism promotion, and will further support DCT Abu Dhabi’s global positioning of the emirate as an exceptional destination for visitors and future investors.

Organised in collaboration with Berlitz International Language Institute, the programme offers a training period of at least two months in Abu Dhabi.

Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Communicating with international markets in their own mother tongue will significantly expand our overseas offices’ reach and capability to promote the emirate of Abu Dhabi internationally. As language is as much about layers of cultural context and national history, this strategy stands as a very powerful tool for tourism promotion.”

Meanwhile, China topped the visitors list during the first seven months of this year, recording 242,700 visitors, an increase of 13.8 per cent compared to the same period of last year.

India came in second with 227,300 guests and a 17.8 per cent increase, followed by the UK with 150,200, recording a 8.5 per cent increase and the United States with 109,100 guests, recording a 24.6 per cent increase.

Guest statistics submitted by Abu Dhabi hotels indicate this year’s numbers are on track to surpass last year’s record of 4.87 million hotel guests. –