KHALEEJ TIMES, Tuesday, Jul 28, 2020 | Zul Hijjah 7, 1441
Abu Dhabi announces mandatory Covid-19 tests for all tourism sector staff
Emirates:
In line with the 'Go Safe' certification programme spearheaded by the
Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), and endorsed
by the government of Abu Dhabi, regular Covid-19 testing for all tourism
sector staff has been made mandatory.
The move is part of DCT Abu Dhabi's extensive and ongoing efforts to ensure the
health and safety of its residents and visitors and follows the recent launch of
the 'Rediscover Abu Dhabi' campaign aimed at engaging with the myriad staycation
and touristic offers made available to visitors within the UAE capital.
Abu Dhabi has received international praise for its highly successful efforts in
containing the spread of Covid-19, and the emirate continues to achieve positive
outcomes as a result of the combined initiatives and regulations that have been
introduced to minimise the spread of the virus.
The success of managing various aspects of the pandemic is due to the emirate's
outstanding ability to create successful public-private partnerships. DCT Abu
Dhabi has seen a tremendous response from industry players in terms of
compliance to newly adopted precautionary measures, with many taking a further
step by independently implementing additional safety measures to protect
consumers.
The rigorous collaboration between DCT Abu Dhabi, stakeholders and various
regulatory bodies, including the Department of Health, Department of Economic
Development and Abu Dhabi Airport amongst others, has helped shape a secure
framework for the handling of tourism operations in Abu Dhabi.
Indeed, amongst DCT Abu Dhabi's efforts to ensure the health and safety
compliance of its partners in the emirate, DCT Abu Dhabi inspectors have been
deployed to check 165 hotels and 450 restaurants by conducting over 700
inspections over a period of one month. In addition to these inspections, DCT
Abu Dhabi has also developed a checklist of 107 checkpoints abiding by more
advanced criteria in alignment with Department of Health guidance.
The local government's rigorous awareness campaign has also played a significant
role in uplifting Abu Dhabi during this period, ensuring the safety of all
residents and consumers by giving individuals the tools to take responsibility
for their own well-being in the future. The government has implemented a range
of safety measures to protect the community, including the adoption of
social-distancing courses across the emirate, checkpoints for temperature
screenings and regular disinfection of all operational areas across tourism
establishments.
"The regular testing of staff provides another layer of safety for the
community, helping to boost the confidence of consumers and further activate the
tourism sector in the capital," said Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of
Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi. "We are blessed in Abu Dhabi to have an
inter-departmental support structure that has enabled our businesses and
entities to navigate this period in the best shape possible. We are working
closely with all relevant authorities to ensure the successful implementation
and ongoing management of this initiative.
"This, along with our Go Safe certification programme and the outstanding work
being done by our government, will pave the way for a safe haven in the midst of
this global pandemic."
Rediscover Abu Dhabi provides residents of the UAE with exclusive opportunities
to experience the unique culture and diverse offerings of the capital. Consumers
will be able to enjoy the campaign's wide range of exciting offers throughout
the summer period.
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