On December 7, the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management hosted the 12th Bilkent Tourism Forum. This traditional, prestigious and yearly event brings together national and international industry leaders, academics from higher education institutions, corps and students to discuss current issues in tourism. With a theme of the “100th Year of Our Republic and the Eclectic Future of Tourism,” this year’s forum opened the floor for distinguished panelists to discuss opportunities and challenges facing tourism conjunctively with various emerging technologies and industries.
The panelists included Hülya Aslantaş of Universal Turizm, a leading tourism entrepreneur with four decades of experience, including chairwomanship of TÜRSAB and SKAL International among others; Prof. Beykan Çizel (THM/’96) of Akdeniz University, with a research record focused on destination management and technology; Dr. Tufan Kıymaz, of the Department of Philosophy, actively involved in various educational programs across the country, such as the “Nesin Matematik Köyü;” and Nasuh Mahruki (MAN/’92), the renowned civil society activist, pioneering mountaineer. The panel was moderated by Prof. Engin Deniz Eriş, an established tourism scholar who holds various executive roles in the Vocational School of Dokuz Eylül University.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) was both at the forefront and the backstage of this year’s forum. The poster of the forum as well as the music list played before and after the panel discussion were AI-assisted creations. In the interactive panel, Hülya Aslantaş presented a historical panorama of the technologies—from the advent of mass communication to AI—that have shaped and continue to shape various sectors of tourism. Dr. Tufan Kıymaz elaborated on the ethical dilemmas that we may face in tourism with a specific focus on ‘slum tourism.’ Prof. Beyzan Çizel’s presentation delved deeper into some of the breakthrough AI advancements as well as their potential effects on tourism demand and supply. Finally, Nasuh Mahruki evaluated the current reality of travel and traveler experience based on his pioneering expeditions around the world within the last few decades.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by Prof. Altay Güvenir, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, and Vice Rector Prof. Erdal Erel. Rector Prof. Kürşat Aydoğan awarded plaques to the panelists at the end of the forum. Ankara Hilton and Turkish Airlines, the official sponsors of this year’s forum, provided the prizes for a raffle organized specifically for the student attendees. The forum concluded with an exceptional coffee hour hosted by Ankara HiltonSA.
