This year’s 16th Ulysses Prize to be awarded by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is to be awarded to Dr. Jigang Bao.
The formal presentation of the Ulysses Prize will be made at the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly that will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from October 16-20, 2023.
The prize is named to those who has demonstrated excellence in the creation and dissemination of knowledge in tourism.
Professor and Director of the Center for Tourism Development and Planning Research at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, Dr. Bao has played an instrumental role in growing domestic tourism in both size and significance and in establishing his country as a leading tourism destination, according to the information.
Alongside his pioneering role in advancing tourism education and research across China, Dr. Bao also serves as the Director of the UNWTO Monitoring Center for Sustainable Tourism Observatories.
He has also been engaged as an expert consultant for numerous destinations and projects, with a particular focus on theme parks, urban tourism and community participation.
Among the 11 criteria for the Prize are demonstrated excellence and originality of scholarship, academic leadership in their chosen field, a record of supporting sustainability, inclusiveness and innovation through their work, as well as serving as a role model to present and future generations of tourism scholars and leaders, it said.
The selection process was conducted in a rigorous, transparent and unbiased manner and an extensive evaluation was made by Previous Laureates of the Prize.
Dr. Bao is credited with introducing Western concepts and approaches to tourism research and teaching to China and has translated several relevant books into Chinese, said the information.
Dr. Bao pioneered tourism education and research at Sun Yat-sen University, and has held numerous high administrative positions, including Assistant Principal of the university.
Dr. Bao has also worked with UNWTO to establish Sustainable Tourism Observatories in Huangshan, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Kanas, Henan, Chengdu, Xishuangbanna, and Changshu has published more than 200 papers and more than ten books and holds editorial positions on several leading journals.
