Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works, Chairman of National Media Council (NMC) stressed the significance of participation of the UAE Journalists Association in the first Training Conference for the Arab Media persons specialised in Tourism Media, which commenced today in the Lebanese Capital, Beirut.
Addressing the conference, Sheikh Hamdan said the convention of the five-day long conference under patronage of the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism, will enrich experiences of participant journalists from 16 Arab countries, indicating that the modern specialised media is required to keep pace with the development being experienced by the tourism sector in the UAE.
He emphasised keenness of NMC to develop tourism media to contribute to promotion of tourism boom in the country.
Sheikh Hamdan noted that the UAE has become one of the most important tourism hub in the world, thanks to the best infrastructure in terms of modern airports, seaports, tourist cities and villages, and luxurious hotels and resorts.
He attributed this distinguished progress in the tourism sector to huge support from President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
“NMC adopts clear media strategy to promote UAE tourism abroad by introducing to the world the UAE heritage and its tourism and natural resources through NMC participations at international exhibitions”, he added.
Sheikh Hamdan cited the UAE participation at Shanghai Expo 2010 in which the country reaped good results, indicating that the UAE bagged the award of the best pavilion, besides its media presence in China during the event. He added that the UAE highlighted during Shanghai Expo 2010, which continued for six months and attracted about 70 million visitors, its urban, environmental and tourism landmarks.
He added that NMC will continue cooperation with the Journalists Association, Arab Centre for Tourism Media in UAE and the National Council for Tourism and Antiquities to train specialist local cadres in the area of tourism media.
Sheikh Hamdan noted that NMC was planning to hold more training sessions and workshops in cooperation with the Association and competent academic agencies in the UAE and abroad to enhance efficiency of Emiratis working in the tourism media sector.
He wished success in conclusion of his speech to the conference to inculcate new concepts for the Arab tourism media, which could further contribute to the development of the Arab countries
