Hosted by Eastern Mediterranean University Tourism Faculty, 7th International Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Marketing and Management” (AHTMM) Conference, formerly organized in Turkey, Greece, Taiwan, Mauritius, Japan and China as of 2011, commenced at Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 11 July 2017.
The conference continuing until 15 July 2017 will be hosting over 100 participants from different corners of the earth. During their stay on the island, participants will both learn about the truth about Northern Cyprus and discover its tourism potential. Within the scope of the AHTMM, which is amongst the most reputable conferences in the field of tourism and hospitality management, tourism potential will be discussed in the light of scientific data. The conference will also provide a unique forum for attendees from academia, industry, government, and other organizations to actively exchange, share, and challenge state-of-the-art research and industrial case studies on hospitality and tourism marketing and management. The conference also aims to thoroughly examine contemporary hospitality and tourism issues, stimulate dialogue, and develop new perspectives in the field of hospitality and tourism within the globalized environment. In this respect, the conference will host high quality presentations on different topics which will shed light on the target of developing tourism within our country. At the end of the conference, conference proceedings will be published in a book, allowing the university to share the findings and recommendations at a global level. Further information on the conference is available at ahtmm.emu.edu.tr
During the conference opening ceremony, EMU Tourism Faculty Dean and Conference Co-Chair Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç delivered a speech in which he stated his pride in hosting the conference at EMU and in Famagusta. Putting forth that during the conference, information exhange on research findings will take place and outcomes will be shared with participants, Prof. Dr. Kılıç highlighted the importance of the conference in terms of the development of the tourism sector in the TRNC.
Following Prof. Dr. Kılıç, Conference Chair Prof. Dr. Doğan Gürsoy from Washington State University delivered a speech on the development of tourism at the TRNC and the contributions of international students to the TRNC’s tourism sector.
In his address, Cyprus Turkish Hoteliers Association Chair Fethi Özboğaç stated that he graduated from EMU in 1996 and expressed his happiness in re-visiting his alma mater on the occasion of the conference. Özboğaç also stated that through effective marketing, administration and advertisement methods, the tourism within Northern Cyprus will improve greatly.
Mayor of Famagusta İsmail Arter also delivered a speech during which he stated that at conferences as such valuable information is exchanged. Arter also expressed his hope that the outcomes of the conference are communicated to the state departments and put into practice, accordingly. Arter also conveyed his pleasure in hosting the conference in Famagusta.
Following Arter, Rector of EMU Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam extended his appreciation to EMU Tourism Faculty for the organisation of this important conference in collaboration with Washington State University. Putting forth that EMU hosts students from 106 countries and academics from 35 different countries, Prof. Dr. Osam provided extensive information about EMU. At the end of his speech, Prof. Dr. Osam presented plaques of appreciation to those who contributed to the conference.
