The National Ecotourism Project was unveiled by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) with the intent to have UAE as one of the major ecotourism travel destinations in the world. The drive has been initiated to bring about the ‘natural wonders’ in the UAE for the world to see.

MOCCAE has already confirmed that in the project an app and a microsite will be launched. The main aim of the app and the microsite is to highlight the ecotourism travel potential that this country has got to offer. There will be a wide number of destinations that will be highlighted including Mangrove Park, Abu Dhabi; Al Marmoum Reserve, Dubai; Wadi Wurayah National Park, Fujairah; Sir Bo Na’air Protected Area, Sharjah; and Al Zorah Natural Reserve, Ajman.

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment says that, “The National Ecotourism Project is a result of the country’s commitment to preserving the environment. Over the past few years, the pioneering vision and directives of the UAE leadership have enabled the country to consolidate its leading global status across diverse sectors, with travel and tourism at the forefront.”

The project is set to be out in three phases with each of these phases to be focusing on different major aspects mainly environmental, economic and social factors.

“The Ministry is about to launch a dedicated website and app for tablets and smartphones to raise awareness of the protected areas among residents and visitors, and encourage travel agencies to include these sites in their promotional packages for the UAE. The portal and app will serve as an information and visual resource that UAE embassies across the globe and national airlines can use to introduce these attractions to the world.”, said Dr. Al Zeyoudi.

He also goes on to add, “For the project to become fully-fledged, the UAE seeks to leverage the fast-paced development witnessed in all sectors, particularly in the sustainable tourism domain that includes eco-friendly flights, hotels, beaches and campsites. In the next phase, we plan to update the website and app with geographic locations and detailed information on these facilities and services to assist travel agencies in organizing eco-friendly tours.”

Tackling major risks like pollution will be a key facet of the scheme. The UAE indeed consists of all the ingredients that makes it a wonderful place of choice for an ecotourism destination.