2024 ICSTH

Dr. Dirk Glaesser

Director, Sustainable and Resilient Tourism

UN World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism)

Dr. Dirk Glaesser is Director of the Sustainable Development of Tourism Department at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Under his supervision, the programme addresses the challenges and opportunities of sustainable tourism development, including climate change, sustainable consumption and production, health emergencies, biodiversity and travel facilitation. It also promotes safe travel behavior and has closely monitored various health emergencies, from SARS, Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 to the most recent COVID-19 outbreak, and their impact on travel and tourism.

He joined the World Tourism Organization in 1997 and has held various positions in UNWTO, among them Chief of the Risk and Crisis Management Department and supervisor of UNWTO’s Consulting Unit on Biodiversity and Tourism.

Dr. Glaesser is a banker by profession and a Colonel of the Reserve. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Lüneburg (Germany) and won the ITB scientific award for his work on Crisis Management. He is the author of a number of publications which have been widely translated.

Dr. Maulita Sari Hani

Senior Project Specialist of the Rural Tourism Programme from Tourism Market Intelligence, Policies and Competitiveness Department

UN World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism)

Maulita has extensive experience in marine tourism and fisheries science, having worked with international organizations for two decades. She utilizes scientific knowledge, policy strategies, and collaborative methods to foster inclusive and resilient communities while ensuring sustainability. Since 2022, she has been serving as a Senior Project Specialist at the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), where she contributes to global tourism for rural development initiatives in advocacy, skills development, knowledge creation, and on-the-ground activities. Maulita also volunteers to advise Women Tourism Indonesia, mentor the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, and represents Coral Catch as an ambassador. Additionally, she actively writes publications mainly on topics related to sharks and rays tourism.

Comm'r Ivan Anthony Henares

Commissioner

National Commision on Culture and the Arts

A tourism educator, cultural policy researcher, and advocate for heritage conservation in the Philippines. He is Secretary-General of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM), Commissioner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines Asian Institute of Tourism (UP AIT).

At present, he is also Secretary General of the ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee (ICTC), Chairperson of the Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Alliance (SEACHA), Chairperson of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS), among others. He was named one of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in the field of Heritage Conservation in 2012, and an Asia 21 Young Leader in 2008.

Dr. Paolo Fresnoza

University Instructor

Capilano University

is an accomplished tourism expert with a wealth of experience in the tourism industry in Canada, Australia, Thailand and the Philippines. Armed with over 15 years of experience, his specialties include tourism planning, destination and policy development, tourism sustainability, advanced tourism theories, and disaster risk management in tourism.

Fresnoza was a former assistant professor at the University of the Philippines - Asian Institute of Tourism and as a current instructor at Capilano University in North Vancouver. He is a graduate of Capilano University's Tourism Management Degree program and holds a Master's degree (with honours) in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the Philippines. He recently completed his doctoral dissertation, which focuses on disaster risk management in tourism in the perspective of Indigenous systems and practices.

Dr. Fevzi Okumus

CFHLA Preeminent Chair Proffesor

University of Central Florida

Professor Fevzi Okumus is the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association (CFHLA) Preeminent Chair Professor within the Hospitality Services Department at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. He was the Founding Chair of the Hospitality Services Department at UCF Rosen College from 2007-2013.

He received his PhD in Strategic Hotel Management from Oxford Brookes University, UK. He has a Master of Science degree in International Hotel Management from Oxford Brookes University, UK, and a Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality and tourism from Cukurova University, Turkey. He worked in the hotel industry in various functional areas and roles before becoming an educator.