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Middlesex University Dubai celebrates World Tourism Day 2018 with established guest panel

  • October 4 2018

As one of the leading tourism research hubs in the UAE, Middlesex University Dubai celebrated World Tourism Day on the 27th of September. The university was particularly excited to learn that theme of the day was Tourism and Digital Transformation and as such collaborated with Kiyany Media to offer attendees a virtual reality experience before attending an expert panel discussion on tourism and technology in the region.

The esteemed panel included Arva Saleem Ahmed of Frying Pan Adventures, renowned hospitality consultant Martin Kubler, multi-award winning Emirati filmmaker Hassan Kiyany and leading tourism researcher Dr Cody Morris Paris from Middlesex University Dubai. The multidisciplinary panel engaged attendees in a lively discussion of the role of tourism and the past, present and potential future of tourism in Dubai. The opportunities afforded by social media for smaller businesses were dissected and a prominent theme centred on the importance of storytelling via a variety of mediums such as social media and even virtual and augmented reality.

Arva Ahmed shared her own experiences, and reflected upon the difficulties of gaining a visibility in today’s competitive virtual environment. She noted that the quality of content is key for businesses, and that they may need to keep an open mind and continue to adapt their strategies for sharing that content to ensure that they are able to share a louder story. When asked about the influencer revolution, Arva stated that ‘everybody is an influencer today, even your friends, and they will find you whether you look for them or not’.

The panel discussed in detail how the tourism experience is increasingly becoming shaped by finding ‘instagramable’ moments and how, for some tourists, their entire experience is often mediated through the screen of their phones.  Cody Paris drew on his own research on ‘being disconnected’ while traveling, noting that tourists are starting to disconnect by choice when on vacation.  While Arva agreed that this might be a phase, Martin Kubler worried about which of us will still be connected.

Martin commented on the democratization of restaurant reviews, and how popular ‘fast food’ photography was becoming among a segment of society that over shares. Even, Hassan Kiyany, who is a filmmaker that appreciates the great potential in VR as an immersive medium for filmmaking, noted that while VR can enable a variety experiences for those who might otherwise find themselves unable to travel (such as people of determination), the first thing you should do in the morning is still drink you coffee – not put on your VR headset!

Technological advancements, including social media and mobile technologies allow for a more technology enhanced tourism experience, affording us new ways of experiencing the destinations we visit, engaging with people we meet, and sharing these experiences with our virtual networks,  noted Dr Paris. The panelists agreed that until you can eat (in the case of Frying Pan Adventures), smell, taste, touch virtually - technology will not replace travel, only enhance it. Dubai was designed before Instagram, but as one of the most instaworthy cities in the World, the future of tourism and technology is very bright!

 

We are excited to announce the opening of the brand new Immersive VRx Lab, a cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) hub at Dubai Knowledge Park designed to empower students and faculty to develop and explore their innovative ideas using immersive technology.
We are excited to announce the opening of the brand new Immersive VRx Lab, a cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) hub at Dubai Knowledge Park designed to empower students and faculty to develop and explore their innovative ideas using immersive technology.
Our Student Learning Assistants are a core part of teaching and learning at Middlesex University Dubai. SLAs are all current students, who are trained to work alongside their lecturers to promote learning and provide academic guidance to peers on their programme.
Our Student Learning Assistants are a core part of teaching and learning at Middlesex University Dubai. SLAs are all current students, who are trained to work alongside their lecturers to promote learning and provide academic guidance to peers on their programme.
Ramadan Kareem from Middlesex University Dubai to all those observing this year! Below we will be sharing some tips for how to keep your studies on track during the holy month, and how your classmates and friends can support you during this time.
Ramadan Kareem from Middlesex University Dubai to all those observing this year! Below we will be sharing some tips for how to keep your studies on track during the holy month, and how your classmates and friends can support you during this time.
On Monday 20 March and Tuesday 21 March 2023, the Institute of Sustainable Development was extremely proud to launch For The Love Of The Planet, our brand new two-day festival putting the UAE’s future leaders at the heart of student-driven solutions to the issues of sustainable fashion, food sustainability and developing a circular economy.
On Monday 20 March and Tuesday 21 March 2023, the Institute of Sustainable Development was extremely proud to launch For The Love Of The Planet, our brand new two-day festival putting the UAE’s future leaders at the heart of student-driven solutions to the issues of sustainable fashion, food sustainability and developing a circular economy.
We are delighted to unveil our enhanced, state-of-the-art Film Lab, MDX Studios. Designed to provide an immersive and holistic film education and support the development of the UAE's burgeoning film sector, MDX Studios provides our talented student filmmakers with exclusive access to state-of-the-art equipment, including RED camera kits, a dedicated Podcast Studio, Dolby Atmos Theatre and Mixing Studio, recording studio, and many more facilities as part of the studio setup.
We are delighted to unveil our enhanced, state-of-the-art Film Lab, MDX Studios. Designed to provide an immersive and holistic film education and support the development of the UAE's burgeoning film sector, MDX Studios provides our talented student filmmakers with exclusive access to state-of-the-art equipment, including RED camera kits, a dedicated Podcast Studio, Dolby Atmos Theatre and Mixing Studio, recording studio, and many more facilities as part of the studio setup.