Solid Gold! The George Washington University Celebrates 50 Years of Tourism Research and Education Excellence

The Washington Monument in Washington, DC
Professor Joe Goldblatt
It began with, as the poet Robert Frost so wisely wrote, The Road Not Taken. Eisenhower Professor of Tourism Policy Donald Hawkins and his colleagues created in 1974 the world’s first tourism programme in higher education upon the campus of The George Washington University in Washington, DC. Professor Hawkins realised that although there were numerous hospitality and culinary programmes, there was a major gap in the wider and more holistic field of international tourism studies. He sought to fill that gap and during the past half century his brilliant idea and the hard work of his colleagues has uniquely helped to inform, educate, and empower thousands of tourism professionals all over the world.
Today, in many countries tourism is the largest industry. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) tourism contributed 9.1 percent to the global Gross Domestic Product in 2023 which is close to the 2019 record of 10 percent. The UNWTO also announced that international tourism receipts reached 1.4 trillion US dollars (USD) in 2023 and according to preliminary estimates, about 93% of the USD 1.5 trillion earned by destinations in 2019. Tourism, thanks in large part to the fifty years of academic leadership from The George Washington University is one of most important economic drivers throughout the world. In fact, in recognition of its historic pioneering work, the GW programme became the first UNWTO designated research and training centre in the entire world.
However, the true genius of Dr Hawkins and his colleagues is that early on they realised that global tourism was significantly multifaceted and included major elements such as sports and events management, which is where I had the honour of entering from stage left.
In 1992, at 40 years of age, I applied for a graduate assistantship to further my research and education in the field of events management. I had written the first text book in this field in 1989 and further inspired by the early work of Professor Hawkins I recognised that there was a huge gap in terms of research and education in this fast growing industry. With the support and encouragement of the faculty at GW, I was able to develop the first Masters degree concentration in Events Management and the first Professional Certificate Programme in Events Management, that soon spread to many other colleges and universities throughout the world. Upon departing GW, I became Dean of the Alan Shawn Feinstein Graduate School of Johnson & Wales University where, once again emulating Dr Hawkins pioneering spirit, I created the world’s first MBA Concentration in Events Leadership which is still offered today as are the event management programmes at GW that I first launched 32 years ago.
To further help expand the footprint of these early GW based programmes, thanks to GW’s positive global reputation, I have delivered speeches and workshops in Sydney, Melbourne, Bogota, Bethlehem, Palestine, Jerusalem, Madrid, England, Curacao, Japan, Beijing, Seoul, Cologne, Barcelona, Nice, Lisbon, Dublin, Cardiff, Amman, Riyadh, Manila, Cebu, Johannesburg, througout the USA, and eventually I permanently settled in the festival capital of the world, Edinburgh, Scotland.
In 1999, as a junior member of the GW faculty, I had the privilege of producing the 25th anniversary celebration for the world’s first tourism programme in higher education. We chartered a boat and set sail from the beautiful harbour of Washington, DC upon the Potomac River . As we launched and our boat glided forward, I leaned upon the rail, gazed at the horizon and viewing the distant sun, posited, as did Dr Benjamin Franklin as he witnessed the birth of a new nation. I wondered at that time if the sun was rising or setting upon this historic programme. I suppose I also wondered where this programme might eventually one day land?
Today, the Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management (MSTHEM) programme is recognised as a major leader in the field of tourism within higher education and one of its graduates is the Director of the National Tourism and Travel Office at the United States Department of Commerce.
Much more modestly, another one of its graduates, due to the resources and inspiration of the world’s first tourism programme in higher education eventually authored, co – authored, and edited 40 books in the field of events management.
As we say in Scotland each year as we celebrate Hogmanay (New Years eve), “Lang May Yer Lums Reek” (long may your chimney smoke at GW)! The world is indeed a much better place because of Professor Hawkin’s crystal clear vision and tireless efforts when he explored and ultimately broke ground upon the road less taken. This historic road led many of us to make the pilgrimmage and discover many brilliant destinations that ultimately brought the world closer together, economically, socially, and culturally.
As we celebrate the end of the old year and the hopeful prospects of a new one soon to come, we also celebrate the genius of one man, his colleagues, and thousands of graduates who through exemplary and indeed ground breaking tourism research and education have in many significant ways helped millions of citizens all over the globe to better understand, appreciate, and respect one another through the priceless gift of travel and tourism.
Professor Joe Goldblatt is Emeritus Professor of Planned Events at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland. His views are his own. For more information about his views visit www.joegoldblatt.scot
Congratulations
Professor Joe Goldblat
You have really inspired me
Thank you Celestina. My pleasure!