Under the MOU, the two will co-operate on the staging of workshops and seminars for Abu Dhabi industry stakeholders and will share best-practice procedures and research capabilities.

“The Asian and Chinese markets are increasing important to us particularly as the UAE now has the key Approved Destination Status from the Chinese authorities which allows its main operators to proceed with group bookings to this country. Over the past year we have laid the promotional infrastructure to penetrate China’s outbound sector with the opening of three ADTA offices within the People’s Republic and successful showings at its leading travel and business tourism shows.

“The needs of the Asian traveller are specific and must be addressed if we are to reach our potential in attracting this segment and we want to ensure that all within the destination are better equipped to fulfil these exacting requirements,” said His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, ADTA.

“HKPU is one of Asia’s leading hospitality education institutes and in it we have a partner with the relevant experience and pedigree to assist us in meeting our goals throughout the region. This MOU marks another major step forward in ADTA’s advancing professional development programme which is aimed at delivering an industry of distinction serving a destination of distinction.”

The educational strategies, which also include custom-made executive development programmes for the ADTA’s own management and employees, will be formulated with HKPU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management which provides education up to doctorate level.

“This MOU demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s confidence in our ability to deliver to exacting standards and we intend to respond by living up to the authority’s highest expectations,” said Professor Kaye Chon, Chair Professor and Director, HKPU.

“Abu Dhabi has all the right qualifications for resonating well with the Asian traveller – the natural assets, cultural attractions, quality accommodation and, above all, reputation for safety – it is now a question of knowing how to fine tune the product offering to this target segment and ensuring message dissemination reaches the influential decision-makers.”

ADTA’s China campaign began just over a year ago and was rewarded recently by the authority being voted in the influential Travel Weekly China magazine as having produced ‘Best Destination Marketing’ for 2009.

Ends

The first flight of the third winter season service took off from the Dubai International Airport en route to Copenhagen on Thursday, 29 October 2009 at 9:05 a.m., following the arrival of the fully-booked flight from Copenhagen into Dubai of the same aircraft at 6:30 a.m., same day Thursday.

“From all indications of the start of our third Dubai-Copenhagen winter season service, I am confident that we will be able to surpass our first and second winter season service performance,” said Albert Henschel, SAS Scandinavian Airlines General Manager for the UAE. “Indeed, our two special price offer promotions for the initial flights of the season may have proven to be too difficult to resist as our value for money tried, tested and unique Scandinavian quality of service on-board all of SAS Scandinavian Airlines flights have caught the attention of travellers, either for business or leisure, and have been convinced to fly with us.”

“As a result, the initial stages of the resumption of our Dubai-Copenhagen winter season service have already recorded a significant increase of 20 per cent in bookings.”

The SAS Scandinavian Airlines thrice weekly third winter season service of the Dubai-Copenhagen route leaves Dubai International Airport for Copenhagen every Sundays, Thursdays and Fridays, while the flight from Copenhagen to Dubai are from Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. And with SAS Scandinavian Airlines extensive network, travellers can enjoy hassle-free onward connections throughout Scandinavia and Northern Europe from its hub in Copenhagen.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines is one of few airlines offering Economy Extra, a generously upgraded Economy Class with wider, more comfortable seats with plenty of legroom. With one of the most generous cabin classes in the sky, SAS’ Economy Extra passengers receive a range of Business Class benefits, but at a much lower price. In Economy Extra you will enjoy a remarkably more comfortable seat than in Economy. In a spacious 2-3-2 configuration, the seats are wider and offer 20 per cent more legroom compared to Economy. All Economy Extra seats also have adjustable neck and foot rests for a greater level of comfort.

Economy Extra passengers can then race through Fast Track security (where available) and enjoy priority boarding. They can also take advantage of a greater baggage allowance, including one additional piece of hand luggage to take onboard.

The Dubai-Copenhagen route will be operated by an Airbus A340 and A330 with a three-class configuration: Business, Economy Extra and Economy.

Ends-

Dubai Municipality used to undertake vehicle testing earlier but has now handed over the service to Tasjeel, to enhance the convenience of customers. Vehicle owners can now register their vehicles and test them too under one roof, starting from 1 May, 2009.

An estimated 10,000 vehicles will be tested per year. The testing procedures will take around 10 minutes and the approved vehicles will be given a card plus certificate.

Ayas Bin Hendi, General Manager, Tasjeel, said: “Our agreement with Dubai Municipality is a testament to the quality of services provided by us. We look forward to further collaborations and to implement other successful projects with Dubai Municipality in the future to provide the highest safety standards for residents of Dubai.”

Khalid Sharif Al Awadhi, Director of the Food Control Department in the Dubai Municipality, emphasised that food transportation is one of the most important aspects in food protection and safety. “The majority of the health problems related to food happen because of inappropriate food transportation. We have established strong relationships with Tasjeel due to their high level of professionalism and the agreement will further enhance collaboration between both parties.”

Tasjeel staff has undergone a special training approved by Dubai Municipality, to perform the new service which covers the testing of all kinds of food transport vehicles. As per the new service, food are categorised as dry, cold, frozen and hot, and stickers of different colours are placed on the food transport vehicles depending on the nature of the food.

The new service is initially available at the Tasjeel site in Al Warsan, which is in close proximity to the Fruits & Vegeatble Market as well as more accessible from other Emirates.