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TourismFirst_February_issue

28 Ou TbOu Nd : dubaI dubai: promotes emirati heritage with an eye on ‘dubai Strategic plan 2021’ The dubai Culture & arts authority (dubai Culture) plays a crucial role in achieving the vision of the dubai strategic Plan 2021 of establishing the city as vibrant, global arabian metropolis that shapes culture and arts in the region, and in the world. Vasujit Kalia speaks with the officials from dubai Culture in this exclusive interview. sNIPPETs Europe is the official Partner destination for itb china 2017 First Partner Destination ever – official announcement of partnership between European Travel Commission and ITB China on 31 January in Brussels. Europe is the Official Partner Destination of ITB China 2017. A corresponding agreement was signed on 31 January 2017 by David Axiotis, General Manager ITB China and Eduardo Santander, Executive Director European Travel Commission. The three-day business to business travel trade fair focuses exclusively on the Chinese travel industry and takes place from 10 to 12 May 2017 in Shanghai. David Axiotis, General Manager of ITB China: “We are delighted to announce Europe as the first ever partner destination for ITB China. China is the driving force for growth in outbound trips and Europe as a continent remains a dream destination for many Chinese tourists. Europe as partner destination will help to better understand the needs of Chinese visitors within the European Tourism Community, especially in the view of the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year (ECTY).” Eduardo Santander / Executive Director at European Travel Commission: European destinations acknowledge the need to remain competitive in China. It is only through deeper cooperation with the Chinese authorities and the support and commitment of the European tourism sector to engage in joint public-private marketing initiatives, like this partnership with ITB China, that Europe will succeed in fostering sustainable tourism growth from China”. A dedicated Europe Pavilion at ITB China will be showcasing the multitude of European tourism prod- ucts and destinations among which are confirmed national presences of Czech Republic, Belgium, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Serbia. In addition to the Europe pavilion, ITB China will show strong individual presences of other major European destinations such as Portugal, Finland, Greece and Austria. The European presence on the show floor is flanked by The World Bridge Tourism project (WBT), which is co-located with ITB China 2017. The WBT is a project jointly organized by the European Travel Commission (ETC) and the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) matching 150 European tourism suppliers from all over Europe with the corresponding number of Chinese travel product buyers. Besides its pure B2B character the event is supported by an extensive program of research and webinars aimed at increasing the understanding of the needs of Chinese visitors within the European Tourism Community. ITB China will take place from 10 to 12 May 2017 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Conference Center. The event, an international offshoot of one of Messe Berlin’s most successful trade fairs, will take place annually and focus on the Chinese travel industry. Its co-organiser is TravelDaily China, a leading online news portal and organiser of travel industry conferences in Asia’s largest country. In the city, which is synonymous for its malls, shopping and glitzy hotels, what is the heritage that dubai Culture & arts authority (dubai Culture) is promoting and how? Dubai Culture & Arts Authority was created with the mandate to preserve Emirati heritage and enhance the cultural diversity and social cohesion of Dubai. While preserving and celebrating past heritage, we are also building a heritage for future generations to call their own. Emirati heritage is incredibly rich, with historical pearling and craft trades, an array of historical buildings and sites, and precious traditions and welcomes visitors to share that heritage. Subject-specific museums celebrate the characteristic features of Emirati life, while immersive historic villages and neighbourhoods capture traditional Emirati ways of life. The recently opened Etihad Museum is an exciting example, as it takes visitors back in time to explore ground-breaking moments in Emirati history. We also preserve and celebrate heritage via initiatives like the Live Our Heritage Festival, which is a prime opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in Emirati heritage, and our Dubai Center for Heritage Development, which brings heritage into schools and inspires young people to play an active role in its preservation. how is it going? What response has it received, overall and, from India in particular? Dubai Culture has been delighted to see increasing numbers of world travelers making trips to Dubai. The Emirate’s proximity to India puts it in the privileged position for welcoming many Indian visitors every year, and Dubai Culture is continuing in its efforts to offer these visitors a memorable and complete cultural experience. We are proud to be managing the Etihad Museum as part of our mandate to preserve Emirati heritage. It officially opened its doors to the public on the 7th January 2017 and the response on opening day was overwhelming. The museum tells the story of the 1971 Union Agreement through the eyes of the Founding Fathers, and visitors expressed how much they valued an insight into the determination and dedication that went into forming the nation. Visitors also particularly appreciated the elegant architecture, displays of personal items belonging to the Founding Fathers, and the use of interactive technology. The museum connects a young Emirati generation with their history, and will ensure this important piece of our heritage heritage-rich city. The Live Our Heritage Festival is a prime example but we also offer a full calendar of artistic events like the SIKKA Art Fair and Art Week, and literary celebrations like the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. The SIKKA Art Fair in particular goes a long way towards displaying the Emirate’s thriving arts scene, by bringing local talent to light and sharing it with visitors. By organizing the Live Our Heritage Festival, Dubai Culture aims to display Emirate heritage to a wide audience and add a much-anticipated heritage event to the city’s cultural calendar. The festival offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the UAE’s desert and marine By organizing the Live Our Heritage Festival, Dubai Culture aims to display Emirate heritage to a wide audience and add a much-anticipated heritage event to the city’s cultural calendar. is preserved for future generations. Development of Dubai Historical District also continues successfully, with areas under renovation centred on Dubai Creek (Khor Dubai) and including Shindagha, Bur Dubai, Al Fahidi and Deira. We play a key role in transforming DHD and ensuring that it stands as a lasting testament to Dubai’s rich trade, craft and pearling history, and year on year, we are delighted to welcome an increasing number of visitors to these historical areas of the city. Considering that dubai is not much known for its heritage, what are the steps taken by you in changing the mindset? Dubai Culture organizes a range of initiatives that encourage visitors to discover every aspect of this multi-faceted, heritage, and enjoy traditional Emirati craft workshops. It also takes place on World Heritage Day, highlighting its importance and adding to the celebrations. Via this initiative, we are able to share the richness of Emirati heritage with all segments of the community and show people from all walks of life that there is more to Dubai than malls and hotels. We are delighted to see visitor numbers growing every year. Our development of the Dubai Historical District is also weaving Emirati heritage into the fabric of the city, for all to see. We aim to celebrate both old and new, and the historical areas of the city offer a delightful contrast to the modern urban developments that have made it such a cosmopolitan destination. Both are part of Dubai’s heritage, and both must be celebrated equally as two parts of a rich whole. ireland: titanic belfast emerges a favorite visitor attraction on the Valentine’s day With the much-touted Valentine’s Day having gone by, Titanic Belfast, which was crowned the World’s Leading Visitor Attraction earlier this year and is located on the exact spot where she was designed, built and launched, has unveiled its top romantic treats for couples to experience this February. TOP ExPErIENCEs INCLudE: discover some of the real love stories on board in the Titanic Experience Learn about the true love story of the owners of Macy’s Department Store, New York, Mr Isidor Straus, and his wife, Ida. Once it was clear Titanic was sinking, Ida refused to leave Isidor and would not get into a lifeboat without him. Purchase the perfect Valentine’s gift Find your own ‘Heart of the Ocean’ and discover the story of the ‘Love of the Sea’ necklace, which may have been the inspiration behind the movie storyline. Kate Florence Philips (aged 19) eloped with the owner of the shop she worked for, to start a new life together. recreate the famous 'Jack and rose' pose Take a photo on the bow of SS Nomadic, the last remaining White Star Line vessel and the biggest Titanic artefact in the world. Due to its similarities to RMS Titanic, it has proved to be a popular proposal location. Take a romantic stroll Complete the day with a romantic walk down the historic slipways at dusk, tracing the illuminated outlines of RMS Titanic and sister ship Olympic and pause for a moment at one of the benches, positioned exactly as they would have been on board the deck of the ship. Enjoy the view of the iconic building in the evening light.

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