The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH) has been awarded the coveted ‘World Responsible Tourism Award 2016" for the first time at the annual World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2016. 

The red-carpet event was held before an audience of leaders in the industry and international media at the Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Resort located in the Maldives on Friday. 

The World Travel Awards, considered the Oscars of the global travel and tourism industry, has recognised the commitment to excellence of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital's tourism programme. 

The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital added this award to its winning streak for the fourth consecutive year the "Middle East's Responsible Awards". 

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 the field of biodiversity conservation. In addition to being the largest falcon hospital in the world with an ever-increasing influx of patients, ADFH has become a popular award-winning tourism destination. It is now considered one of the top three must-see tour attractions in Abu Dhabi and a recipient of TripAdvisor's winner certificate. 

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, EAD's Secretary-General, commented on the award: "We are immensely proud of the achievements of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, they are not only a world-leading clinical veterinary hospital, but through their tours, a critical component in raising awareness of the threats falcons face and their importance in our cultural heritage. The hospital is also a pioneer in the understanding of falcon ecology and the rehabilitation of falcons into the wild through the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme". 

Commenting on receiving the World Responsible Tourism Award for the first time, Dr. Margit Gabriele Muller, ADFH's Executive Director said: ‘The World Travel Awards celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry and bring international acclaim to their winners. This is a great honour and reward for the monumental effort, hard work, consistent performance and commitment of my team in making the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital a global leader in responsible tourism. This accolade underscores our unique role in the tourism vision of Abu Dhabi Emirate." 

The tour offered by Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital provides an in-depth insight in the historical tradition of falconry in Abu Dhabi and its development in modern times. A glimpse behind the scenes of the world's largest falcon hospital and live interaction with falcons gives visitors the chance to get a better understanding of the Emirati's culture, love and passion for nature and the UAE's national emblem, the majestic falcon. 

Thanks to its efforts in tourism, quality, performance excellence and innovation, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital has been awarded with 26 international awards from UK, USA, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Qatar and UAE.

Source: WAM