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IOETI President Dr. Yehia Abu El Hassan announced that the International Organization for the E-Tourism Industry (IOETI) has appointed a new team member, Tharwat Abouraya, CTIE, President, Travel Business CPR, based in Washington, DC, USA.
E-tourism is the fastest-growing segment of the leisure travel market. IOETI will open new channels of information and communication to all existing and potential members. This will ensure that all members reach the highest level of professionalism, including certification. IOETI will also provide training and educational programs for its members, taught by leading experts in the e-tourism industry.
The founders of IOETI and the executive committee are highly-acclaimed professionals in the travel industry, including academic experts and people with extensive business experience. A large part of IOETI’s mission is to bring academics and business experts together to expand e-tourism in the Middle East and developing countries.
“With such a clear vision and mission bringing together international experts in all aspects of information and communication technologies in travel and tourism, we will most certainly be able to fulfill our goals and reach our objectives,” said Dr. Abu El Hassan, “Our aim is to open the developing world’s tourism trade to the world of online travel distribution and marketing.”
As the Americas Destination Management Services & Board Member, Mr. Abouraya will be the organization’s main contact in that region of the world. Part of Mr. Abouraya’s focus will be developing business links for IOETI members in the Americas with tourism industry trade associations, such as the Travel Institute, IATA, CLIA, ASTA, and regional travel associations, etc. Mr. Abouraya will also be developing tourism training alliances and trans-culture awareness trips.
Dr. Abu El Hassan said that establishing a permanent presence in the Americas had been a major priority for the new year. “We want to become more involved in the Americas, and we feel that the Americas are the best place from which to base our efforts. We’re very excited to have Tharwat Abouraya working to develop our business relationships in that part of the world.”
Mr. Abouraya is a Certified Travel Industry Executive, has updated several IATA travel management training manuals, and is a founding member of the American Egyptian Strategic Alliance in Washington, DC, area. Over the past 25 years, he has served as regional director of the American Express Consumer Travel Network and Vice President of Travel for AAA Western and Central New York. He has broad experience in all facets of the travel industry in the United States and overseas. He publishes widely online about the travel industry and manages a travel consulting business.
Mr. Abouraya said: “We see the Americas as a major growth center for e-tourism business. The industry here is developing rapidly and IOETI members are showing more interest in that part of the world for learning and development, including certifications. We’re looking for alliances with top American trade associations and organizations interested in forming alliances – we are eager to make a contribution to the success of the travel industry globally and the growing popularity of e-travel options.”
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