Tourism Breaking News
From December 3-4, 2016, Middlesex University Dubai will host the 4th Annual Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) Asia Pacific Conference (APAC). The conference theme is Pushing the Boundaries: Driving Tourism Innovation & Creativity Through Research. The 4th TTRA APAC conference follows successful previous conferences in Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, and Tokyo. Dr. Cody Morris Paris, Deputy Director of Middlesex University Dubai and Conference Co-Chair, said this theme “resonates with the spirit of Dubai and the UAE, where there have been significant investments to fulfil a vision of an innovation-driven economy with tourism playing a central role. Already one of the most visited cities in the world, home of the busiest international airport, and the birthplace of some of the world’s leading hospitality and tourism brands, Dubai is well on its way of reaching 20 million international visitors by 2020, the year of EXPO2020.”
“We are coming to Dubai at the Far West of the TTRA Asia Pacific region. Dubai has been a leader in tourism leveraging its geographic advantages as a natural hub with long term investment and vision for our industry,” stated Carolyn Childs, TTRA APAC President and Conference Co-Chair. TTRA International was founded in 1970 to support the travel and tourism industry’s growth and success through a focus on the quality, value, effectiveness and use of research in travel marketing, planning and development. Today TTRA continues to provide leadership for the global community of practitioners, educators, and users of travel research.
The Conference will feature nearly 50 leading researchers from industry, government, and academia from more than 15 countries including Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Seychelles, UK, USA, Italy, France, Jamaica, Finland, and the United Arab Emirates. The conference will feature world renowned keynote speakers and panelists presenting on research and practice at the nexus of creativity, innovation, and tourism. Mr. Gerald Lawless, Head of Tourism and Hospitality at Dubai Holding and Chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council will give a keynote talk on The Rewarding Union of Travel & Tourism and Cinematography. Prof. Sue Beaton, the founding president of the TTRA APAC Chapter, will launch the 2nd edition of her seminal book, Film-Induced Tourism, and has organized a special panel and paper track on Creating Tourism via Film, TV and Pop Culture featuring filmmakers, destination marketers, and academics.
