| 08 Sep 2010 |
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UAE Travel Agents to Benefit from Free Online Training on Britain
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VisitBritain Nominates 25 Dubai and 15 Abu Dhabi Agents to Undergo 'BritAgent' E-Learning Programme
Scheme Aims to Equip Local Travel Sector with UK Knowledge and to Strengthen Relationship between UAE Travel Trade and UK Suppliers
The E-learning programme, designed to help front-line travel sales staff increase visitor numbers to the UK through a more in depth knowledge of Britain, consists of three modules followed by a quiz. On completion, 'BritAgent' status will be awarded to signify expertise in UK travel.
The scheme is being launched within the coming weeks at the British Embassy as part of a unified approach to highlight regional awareness of the UK ahead of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralymic Games.
"Travel agents play a crucial role in assisting our visitors to plan and book their holidays to Britain. By launching the BritAgent Specialist Programme in the UAE, we are able to provide travel agents with the necessary tools to offer improved service to customers, consequently increasing their business," said Carol Maddison, UAE Manager, VisitBritain.
"With the HM Consul General Guy Warrington hosting and launching the BritAgent Programme at the British Embassy in Dubai on 29th September, and Ambassador Mr Dominic Jermey in Abu Dhabi during the first week of October, we are emphasising our total commitment to the travel trade industry. It is very important in helping us achieve our objectives of increasing tourism traffic and increasing the spending of travellers to the UK," she added.
Nominated travel agencies will be supplied with a Brit Agent Kit and will have the opportunity to nominate members of staff they want to do the course, which officially begins on October 11th. Participants will have until 15th December to complete the online modules.
As a way of encouraging staff to grasp the opportunity to learn more about Britain as a global destination, a graduation ceremony will be held in February in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi for those who successfully complete the modules and certificates will be presented.
The second module looks at Britain's top attractions and features a breakdown of regions across the UK and advice on the best things to do during a UK visit. The third component, 'Experience Britain', delves into the activities and attractions on offer that will help agents build a strong itinerary for customers.
As global consumers cut back on leisure spending, VisitBritain and UK affiliated travel specialists in the UAE believe such training programmes will help develop a 'capable and competitive workforce that is able to seize opportunities during the downturn and when the economy recovers'.
With world-stage events such as the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, regional travel agents who have not yet had the chance to travel to the UK themselves, may very well relish the opportunity to learn new skills that could result in an increase in bookings made by Middle East residents wanting to visit the UK.
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VisitBritain is the UK's national tourism agency responsible for promoting Britain as a world class tourist destination and for developing the UK's visitor economy. It has representatives in 35 countries around the world and has expanded into India, China, throughout Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia
Overseas residents made 31.9 million visits to the UK in 2008, down by -2.7% on 2007. They spent £16.3 billion, which before adjusting for inflation, rose +2.3% in nominal terms
Every year 17 million visits are made by international consumers to the 46 websites that make up VisitBritain's global family of websites, www.visitbritain.com, which together provide information in 26 different languages.
For VisitBritain media inquiries:
Wallis Marketing Consultants
Kim Latham
Tel: +971 4 390 0387
Fax: +971 4 367 2800
Email: kim.latham@wallis-mc.com
© Press Release 2010
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