On December 20, the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management hosted the 13th Bilkent Tourism Forum with the theme “Tourism As a Force for Peace.” Inspired by the message of the United Nations on September 27, World Tourism Day, this year’s forum was rooted in the fact that tourism is not only an industry nourished by peace but also a driving force for achieving peace, intercultural dialogue and societal well-being.
A panel of renowned experts from various tourism and hospitality sectors focused on the healing and restorative effects of tourism between societies, discussing strategic steps, collaborations and regional initiatives as well as responsible types of tourism that can be encouraged in this direction. The discussion was moderated by Erhan Kaya, CEO of Hotel Linkage, and featured notable panelists: Halil İbrahim Yılmaz, President of the Ankara City Council; Dr. Erkan Yağcı, Executive Board Member of Concorde Hotels and Resorts and President of TÜROFED; Ahmet Hakan Arslan, CHRO of Kozuva Group of Companies; Dr. Eda Gürel, Faculty Member at Bilkent University and Coordinator of CULTURATI; and Dr. Hakan Arslan, General Manager of JW Marriott Ankara. The event started with opening speeches by Rector Prof. Kürşat Aydoğan and FAS Dean Prof. Altay Güvenir and concluded with surprise raffles and a coffee break sponsored by JW Marriott and the Bilkent Hotel and Conference Center. The forum provided ample opportunities for attendees to network and engage in meaningful discussions.