THE recent creation of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Tourism is set to boost tourist traffic to the emirate.

It will be an independent legal entity with HH Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan as chairman of the board, and Salim Mohammad Al Dhahiri as deputy chairman.
The objective of the authority being realising the tourism development of the emirate in harmony with the civilized and cultural traditions of the country, the body is assigned to lay down a comprehensive plan for the development of tourism. As part of its mandate, it will propose new tourism projects and review existing public ones, or those included in the government plan and pending implementation.
The authority will issue licences for tourist activities. It will identify places suitable for tourism investment, make the studies necessary and submit these to the Abu Dhabi Executive Council for approval.
Also part of the authority’s duties will be strategising the overall plan for exhibitions held in the emirate and the issuance of a specifications guide for such exhibitions.
General policy will be laid down by the authority’s board of directors, who will also approve related plans and propose draft laws to speed up tourism development. A consultative committee of local and international tourism experts will also be set up, and financial and administrative regulations are to be issued.
The Al Ain Economic Development and Tourism Promotion Authority is to be dissolved and its assets and officials transferred to the newly-created authority.