World Tourism Forum kicks off in Istanbul

Dubbed the "Davos Forum of World Tourism," the World Tourism Forum Global Meeting brings together movers and shakers in the sector starting today in the Istanbul Congress Center.

The two-day global event will host nearly 150 international speakers from over 20 countries, including top executives of the world's leading tourism companies, tourism investors, public organizations, academics, technology experts, political authorities, non-governmental organizations and Turkish and international tourism authorities.

The event has been organized as a platform where global tourism experts can share their visions with Turkish professionals and help boost tourism potentials, contribute to the national economy and provide Turkish tourism with the necessary momentum to move to an international-level.

David Miliband, the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the U.K., International Rescue Committee (IRC) President and CEO Jack Straw, who served as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Home Secretary under U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Thomas Andersson, the CEO of Visit Stockholm, the largest tourism promotion office in Sweden, will deliver speeches at the event.

Being held under the auspices of the Turkish Presidency, the theme of the World Tourism Forum Global Meeting 2017 is "Boundaries as Barriers: Smooth and Secure Travel." The summit also focuses on tourism trends.

Following Nielsen's press statement about Tourism20 (T20) last week, Socialbakers will share its Tourism and Social Media Report with participant for the first time on the first day of the summit. Also, STR Global will introduce its Special Resort Report to participants today. World Tourism Forum kicks off in Istanbul

The World Tourism Forum Awards, the most prestigious prize in the tourism industry and considered to be the Oscar of world tourism, will be held at Çırağan Palace Kempinski tomorrow.

Famous Internet phenomenon Zach King in Turkey

Influential people in the tourism sector have also been invited to the forum, including Internet phenomenon Zach King, who is featured in Turkish Airlines security demos. Nearly 300 influencers from different parts of the world will come together at the "eGenInfluencers" event at the forum, which takes place today at the Çırağan Palace Kempinski.

T20 brings together tourism ministers of 20 countries

World Tourism Forum Global Meeting will also bring together 20 tourism ministers from around the world to its T20 meeting.

The leaders and decision makers of world tourism will discuss the development of world tourism at a roundtable meeting.

The participants include ministers from Azerbaijan, Somalia, Mozambique, Pakistan, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, the Philippines, Ghana, Macedonia, Benin, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe and Ukraine.

The senior executives of the companies participating in the summit will have the opportunity to meet each other and exchange opinions within the scope of the "Tourism CEO Club." The Tourism CEO Club brings a new-generation approach to a highly important event with regards to new cooperation and investments in the business world.