Last week, Abu Dhabi hosted the 18th General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), a major event for the first time in the region, and the fourth in general outside the headquarters of the Organization in Vienna, attended by 800 ministers and officials, and representatives of 170 member countries of the Organization , With the aim of shaping the future of global industrial development and achieving sustainable development goals.
There is no dispute about the importance of these conferences, and their positive impact on the reputation, status and economy of the UAE, but the most important question remains how to make the most of these conferences, and is there any effective coordination between all departments and agencies to come up with the best output, and achieve the main objectives of organizing such conferences?
There is no doubt that the 800 participants found the best facilities in the halls and in the hotels, and discussed and discussed in an ideal atmosphere, Abu Dhabi distinct in this, but did they see all or some of the other milestones of development in the city? Have they visited Abu Dhabi's most famous tourist attractions, attracting visitors and tourists every year? Have they been organized tours and tours outside the conference, halls and discussions to get acquainted with the cultural renaissance and cultural sites in Abu Dhabi? I assure you that this did not happen, but I assure you that too many participants did not get out of the hotel door during their stay in Abu Dhabi, which lasted for almost five days!
They only saw the airport road to the hotel, and then the hotel road to the airport, and did not seek, or did not offer them to organize tours, cultural or recreational at all, even if they are in return for money, they do not mind it, but they want to do so It's hard.
It was very possible to organize an entertainment and tourism program at reasonable prices that cover the costs of transportation and other, it is very nice to find the guest to guide and provide service, even if they are paid, especially as we talk about an important conference, attended by all hold large positions, and they can enjoy tours and tourist places And cultural!
At the very least, it was possible to link the activities of the conference with the achievements of the city, so that we can convey to these elites an honorable picture of what we have reached. The developmental economy and the UAE were distinguished in many of these areas. Why did the hosts not take advantage of the opportunity to inform the participants in these events of what the state has reached in these areas through field visits, followed by recreational and tourist visits, for example ?!
What really happened was the selection of a very limited number of high-level attendees to tour the city, while the rest of the hotel participants never left!
Unfortunately, the UAE in general is witnessing a lot of events, conferences and huge events that are held here a lot without others, because of the availability of the ideal infrastructure to hold these events, but they are rarely linked to tourism, entertainment and cultural promotion, although this is not Less important - if not superior - than the organization of the event itself, and this is really strange!
reyami@emaratalyoum.com
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