App and microsite to push UAE ecotourism attractions
▶ Project will help preserve the protected areas of the emirates as well as promote sustainable local agriculture
An initiative to display the UAE’s natural wonders to the rest of the world has been unveiled by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
To position the country as a major ecotourism draw, an app and microsite will be launched next month to promote sites such as Mangrove Park, Abu Dhabi; Al Marmoum Reserve, Dubai; Wadi Wurayah National Park, Fujairah; Sir Bo Na’air Protected Area, Sharjah; and Al Zorah Natural Reserve, Ajman.
“The ministry is about to launch a website and app for tablets and smartphones to raise awareness of the protected areas ... and encourage travel agencies to include these sites” in promotions for the UAE, said the head of the ministry, Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi.
“The portal and app will serve as an information and visual resource that UAE embassies across the globe ... and national airlines can use to introduce these attractions to the world,” Dr Al Zayoudi said.
Tackling pollution will also be a key facet of the scheme.
Nicola Liddell, Padi course director with Divers Down UAE, told The National pollution caused by plastic was the single biggest problem facing the environment in the UAE. The push to develop sustainable tourism, however, is having a positive effect.
A drive has been launched to highlight the tourism potential of some of the natural wonders of the United Arab Emirates.
The National Ecotourism Project was unveiled by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment with the intention of positioning the UAE as a major global ecotourism attraction.
The project will include the launch of an app and microsite, which will highlight the ecotourism potential of a number of sites in the country, including Mangrove Park, Abu Dhabi; Al Marmoum Reserve, Dubai; Wadi Wurayah National Park, Fujairah; Sir Bo Na’air Protected Area, Sharjah; and Al Zorah Natural Reserve, Ajman.
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, says the UAE is uniquely placed to capitalise on the current trend for ecotourism.
The UAE has 43 protected areas, making up 14 per cent of the territory here, he said.
This is well above the global figure. Five per cent of the Earth is designated by governments as protected areas.
“The National Ecotourism Project is a result of the country’s commitment to preserving the environment,” he said.
“Over the past few years, the pioneering vision and directives of the UAE leadership have enabled the country to consolidate its leading global status across diverse sectors, with travel and tourism at the forefront.”
The project will promote the UAE’s ecotourism attractions in three phases that focus on environmental, economic and social factors.
The pilot phase will provide information and promotional footage under the theme of The UAE’s Natural Wonders. An app and microsite will be launched by the end of August, to coincide with the beginning of the UAE’s peak season for tourists.
“The ministry is about to launch a dedicated website and app for tablets and smartphones to raise awareness of the protected areas among residents and visitors, and encourage travel agencies to include these sites in their promotional packages for the UAE,” Dr Al Zeyoudi said.
“The portal and app will serve as an information and visual resource that UAE embassies across the globe and national airlines can use to introduce these attractions to the world.”
For the project, the UAE will work with partners in other sectors, “including eco-friendly flights, hotels, beaches and campsites”, Dr Al Zeyoudi said.
“In the next phase, we plan to update the website and app with geographic locations and detailed information on these facilities and services to assist travel agencies in organising eco-friendly tours.”
He said co-operation across all sectors is vital to the initiative’s success and the UAE had all the ingredients to become an ecotourism destination of choice.
Areas in which he expected the UAE to witness immediate benefits include the protection of the environment, the conservation of natural resources, the safeguarding of habitats, the implementation of sustainable practices and ensuring healthier ecosystems.
Dr Al Zeyoudi said ecotourism also promoted sustainable agriculture and combated desertification while contributing to the growth of GDP. Tackling pollution would also be a key facet of the scheme.
“Advantages of the project include protecting the environment through a proper legal framework, conserving natural resources and safeguarding biodiversity habitats, such as protected areas, that constitute the main pillar of this type of tourism,” he said.
The legacy of the campaign was another area in which Dr Al Zeyoudi was focusing his attention.
“We have to pass on the raw materials to the Ministry of Education to ensure they are able to make the future generations aware of what needs to be done,” he said.
“Raising that awareness is going to be a long-term challenge, it will not happen overnight. We are going to constantly updating our databases to ensure that we keep attracting more guests, the Ministry of Education’s involvement is crucial in this regard.”