‘Tourism’ summit on IUE campus

Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Vocational School brought together sector representatives and students in the event called ‘Tourism Days’, organized for the second time. In the event, which was held with the theme of crisis management and where well-known names who came to the fore with their work in the field of tourism were invited as guest speakers, young people were told what they should do for a right career, and the potential of Izmir and Turkey in tourism was evaluated.

The opening speech of the event held at IUE Conference Hall was delivered by Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO) Board Member Oğuz Özkardeş and IUE Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Kentmen Çin. Burçin Önder, Director of IUE Vocational School, moderated the session titled ‘Crisis Management in the Aviation and Tourism Industry’. Fırat Uluskan, Chief Manager, Izmir Station, TGS Ground Services, F. Erkan Balcı, General Manager of Aegean Region, Tav Airports, Aytaç Yıldız, Senior Manager, Stations, Pegasus Airlines, and Rıza Elibol, General Manager, Swissôtel Büyük Efes Izmir attended the event as guest speakers.   

CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Alev Tison, academic, and simultaneous conference interpreter, Osman Kürşat Serttürk, President, Association of Aegean Region Translators and Translation Offices, Soner Üstün, Board Member, Association of Aegean Region Translators and Translation Offices, and Barış Yıldırım, simultaneous conference interpreter, shared their knowledge and experience with young people in the second session titled ‘Crisis Management in Translation Industry’. The event, in which a tourism and aviation workshop, a prize competition and a study case study were held, continued throughout the day with the participation of high school and university students.

WE ARE LUCKY WHEN IT COMES TO TOURISM

Stating that it is of great importance to bring qualified young people to the tourism industry and that Izmir University of Economics undertakes an important task in this regard, IZTO Board Member Oğuz Özkardeş said, “We are in a very lucky region in terms of tourism. Because we have a magnificent nature, history, culture and people. It is up to us to make the best of this. In addition to making the right investments, young people who have undergone qualified education should be brought into the sector. Izmir University of Economics, which is extremely important for Izmir, undertakes a very important task at this point. The University has a very experienced academic staff, which consists of well-known names in the sector. The University is at a high level in terms of bringing young people to our country who will develop the tourism industry and meet the need for qualified workforce. I trust young people who are educated at this university in the field of tourism, I am proud of their success.”

WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR CRISIS MANAGEMENT

Advising young people on crisis management, Özkardeş said, “There may be troubles and crises at certain times in our lives. We may also feel like we are in crisis. Therefore, we must be prepared for crisis management. While managing a crisis, if you miss your main goals, you will not have managed that crisis correctly. A correct crisis management is not just about getting rid of problems. If you can meet the targets when there is no crisis, then you are applying a real crisis management. Tourism is a very broad industry. Translators are an integral part of this industry. Aviation is very valuable for the development of tourism in Izmir. There is a need for well-trained individuals not only in our country, but throughout the world. Young people should see themselves as a value on a global scale. They should develop themselves with the aim of being preferred individuals in the international arena by making very good use of the opportunities provided by this University.”

IUE Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Kentmen Çin thanked all the guests, saying that they are very happy to realize such an important event that will open the horizons of young people. Prof. Dr. Kentmen Çin presented a plaque to IZTO Board Member Oğuz Özkardeş for his contributions.

WE CONTRIBUTE AS A UNIVERSITY

Noting that tourism is a key sector for the country's economy, Burçin Önder, Director of IUE Vocational School, said, “Our country and region have a unique potential in tourism. Izmir is a city that can always be a center in tourism and that can maintain its quality as the starting point of qualified human resources. As a university, we aim to contribute to this potential of our country and our region, and we work for this. We not only provide our students with a good education, but also provide them with the opportunity to gain industry experience and create a business milieu before they graduate, by providing internship opportunities. In addition, we bring together the well-known names of the industry with our students in various events. The traditional Tourism Days event is a good example of this. As a Vocational School, we make a difference in this regard.”