Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital wins Middle East Responsible Tourism Award

Abu Dhabi (WAM): For the second consecutive year, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH) won the Middle East's Responsible Tourism Award at the World Travel Awards 2014. These awards are acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade and aim to celebrate brands that are pushing the boundaries of industry excellence. Established by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) in 1999, the ADFH is internationally recognised for its commitment to the UAE's culture and economy and for its contribution to biodiversity conservation. It has also become a popular award-winning tourism destination and is the largest falcon hospital in the world with an ever-increasing influx of patients. Dr. Margit Muller, Director of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, noted that the hospital's award-winning tourism programme offers visitors an unforgettable experience and includes guided tours in different languages such as English, Arabic, French and German. She added that in 2013, the ADFH won the same responsible tourism award and was ranked the 3rd best tourist attraction in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi by internationally renowned travel website TripAdvisor. In 2013, the ADFH saw an increase of 25 per cent (a total of 12,714) tourists, compared to the previous year. Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital's Shaheen Conference Centre has established itself as a special venue for conferences, seminars and events. ADFH has already hosted several events for major organisations. In early 2014, ADFH received the Business Destination Award for its MICE tourism and hospitality services. Due to a high demand from tourists, the ADFH is now open for guided tours on Saturdays as well. In order to support tourism in Abu Dhabi, the ADFH has already liaised with the major tour operators and travel agents in the UAE. Furthermore, the Hospital has introduced a dedicated online booking system on www.falconhospital.com in order to facilitate tour bookings from abroad before they arrive in the UAE. Following a pilot project led by the ADFH, the Abu Dhabi Education Council has incorporated falcon and animal welfare topics into the school curriculum. This is a major milestone in ADFH's efforts to raise awareness about falcons. – Emirates News Agency, WAM