The World Tourism Forum is preparing to bring leaders in global tourism together once again. With 4,000 local and 3,000 international visitors, the summit is expected to host a staggering total of 7,000 attendees at the Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Center on February 4-6. A primary topic on the agenda of the World Tourism Forum, considered the ‘Davos of Tourism,’ will be Africa, the new market in the industry. Topics including destination marketing, tourism investments, online, medical, retail and sustainable tourism, the effects of politics on tourism, luxury concepts, international sports organizations, MICE industry, tourism and media, tourism and innovation, technology and smart investments will also be under discussion at the summit.
PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYİP ERDOĞAN TO ALSO TAKE PART
The second World Tourism Forum, held this year with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will bring together opinion leaders, investors, political authorities and industry representatives who determine trends in tourism in Istanbul. The summit will take place at the Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Center under the chairmanship of Bulut Bağcı, President of the World Tourism Forum. José Manuel Barroso – former President of the European Commission, Başaran Ulusoy – the President of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB), Mahir Ünal – Republic of Turkey Minister of Culture and Tourism, Sani Şener – CEO of TAV Airports Holding, Mark Tanzer – CEO of ABTA, Dimitrios Arhondonis, Bartholomew I – the Ecumenical Patriarch of Eastern Orthodox Church and Archbishop of Constantinople, and István Ujhelyi – the Vice Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism will be among the forum’s speakers.
THE OSCARS OF THE INDUSTRY WILL FIND THEIR WINNERS
The second World Tourism Awards, also known as the “Oscars of World Tourism,” will be held at the Çırağan Palace on the evening of February 5 this year, with approximately 1,000 guests in attendance. At the end of the night, awards in more than 40 categories will be presented.
