Erik Cohen, one of the world’s leading social science scholars in the field of tourism, has been named this year’s winner of the UNWTO Ulysses Prize for Excellence in the Creation and Dissemination of Knowledge, honouring those within academia making a significant contribution to the advancement of tourism. 

Mr. Cohen, the George S. Wise Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has been announced as the winner of the UNWTO Ulysses Prize for Excellence in the Creation and Dissemination of Knowledge. The prize is awarded annually to scholars for their contribution to the development of tourism education and research.

“Throughout his illustrious and varied academic career, Mr. Cohen’s tourism expertise has always shone through,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “Whether researching education, religion or diaspora, Mr. Cohen never fails to find the links with tourism. In highlighting these complex relationships, Mr. Cohen continuously reminds us of the cross-cutting nature of tourism and its relevance to all of our lives.”

A founding member of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism, Mr. Cohen has served as Sociology Editor of Annals of Tourism Research since 1976. His current research areas include post-modern trends in travel, tourism and disasters, festivals and heritage tourism.

The UNWTO Ulysses Prize for Excellence in the Creation and Dissemination of Knowledge will be presented on 15 November during the UNWTO Awards Ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey. The winners of the UNWTO Award for Lifetime Achievement and the UNWTO Ulysses Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism will also be awarded in Istanbul.

Source: UNWTO