Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that their goal as Turkey for the year 2023 is reach 50 million tourists and 50 billion dollar income.

Hisarcıklıoğlu, pointing out that if the tourism potential of Anatolia is actualized this goal can be reached easily, went on to say:

“Eighty-five percent of Turkey’s 1 million total hotel capacity is to be found in 12 provinces. The rest, 15%, is spread out over 69 provinces. This structure needs to change. The results of the summit, which we will be holding on the 15th of November, must be carefully analyzed.

I would strongly suggest that local representatives in our country attend the innovation and city tourism’s future session in which foreign experts in this field will be taking part.

Let us not forget that the transformation of cities will also determine the future of Turkey. Tourism is an important factor in urban transformation. As much as a city’s competition index, economic potential, entrepreneurship and habitability, its tourism progress determines its success or failure.”

During the summit, which will bring together those who give direction to global tourism from the private and the public sector and academics, the future of cities and various action plans will be assessed, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that representatives from 43 countries will be attending, ranging from China to South Africa; from Greece to Mexico.

Focus will be on three subjects on which domestic and foreign experts will present their views on; “The Strategic Role of Tourism in the Development of Cities,” “What Makes for Success in the World’s City Destinations?” “Smart Cities: Innovation and the Future of City Tourism”.

Acting as a global forum for tourism policies, statistics, information production, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is comprised of approximately 400 members, among which are hotel chains, travel companies, education institutions and private sector organizations which direct world tourism.

UNWTO’s Private Sector Vice Presidency is undertaken by TOBB while TOBB is represented by TOBB Tourism Council Vice President Hasan Arat.

- Attending is summit free of charge

Admission to the summit will be free of charge; those wishing to register can do so at www.turizmzirvesi.org.

The opening speeches of the summit will be made by M. Rifat HİSARCIKLIOĞLU, TOBB President; Mr. Taleb RIFAI , Secretary-General, UNWTO; and H.E. Ertuğrul GÜNAY, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey.

Speaking at the summit will be individuals who direct the path of global tourism. Mr. Márcio FAVILLA, UNWTO Executive Director for Competitiveness, External Relations and Partnerships and Mr. Joan CLOS, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) will be giving speeches at session titled, “The Strategic Role of Tourism in the Development of Cities”.

Speaking at the “What Makes for Success in the World’s City Destinations?” session will be Mr. Burkhard KIEKER, CEO, Visit Berlin-Germay; Mr. Daniel LOZANO, Senior Vice-President Europe, Middle East and Africa, Meliá Hotels International; Mr. Osman AYIK, President, TÜROFED, Turkish Hoteliers Federation, Turkey; Ms. Janie LIGON, Executive Board Director, Chic Outlet Shopping – Value Retail PLC, United Kingdom; Mr. Bora İŞBULAN, Deputy Director General for Commercial Affairs, TAV- Turkish Airports Holding, Turkey; Mr. Peter DeBRINE, Programme Specialist for UNESCO World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Programme in the Culture Sector; Ms. Irene MIA, Regional Director Latin America and the Caribbean, The Economist Intelligence Unit, United Kingdom; Ms. Donna KEREN, Senior Vice-President Research & Analysis, New York City & Company, USA and Mr. José Luis ZOREDA, CEO, Exceltur, Spain.

The third session, “Smart Cities: Innovation and the Future of City Tourism” will feature Mr. Christopher BROWN, Special Adviser to the UNWTO Secretary General as moderator and speeches from Mr. Marcelo REHDER, President, São Paulo Turismo, Brasil; Mr. Pere DURAN, Director General, Barcelona Turisme, Spain; Mr. Norbert KETTNER, Managing Director, Vienna Tourist Board, Austria; Mr. Paul ROLL, Managing Director, Paris Convention & Visitors Bureau, France; Mr. Timur BAYINDIR, Chairman, Turkish Touristic Hotels & Investors Association (TUROB); Mr. Charm LEE, CEO & President of Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), South Korea; Prof. Chris COOPER, Oxford Brooks University, United Kingdom; Prof. Dimitrios BUHALIS, Bournemouth University, United Kingdom.

To summarize, the last session will feature speeches by Prof. Jafar JAFARI, University of Wisconsin-Stout, USA; Mr. Hasan ARAT, Vice-President of TOBB Tourism Assembly, Turkey; Mr. Turgut GUR, President, Turkish Tourism Investors' Association (TYD); Mr. George DRAKOPOULOS, Director General of SETE (Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises), Chairman of UNWTO Affiliate Members; Mr. Márcio FAVILLA, UNWTO Executive Director for Competitiveness, External Relations and Partnerships.

- Ulysses Awards

As part of the summit, the Ulysses Awards will be presented to their winners. The winners will present their projects at the Knowledge Network Symposium on the 16th of November, 2012.
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