UH professor grabbed Asia Pacific Tourism Association Founder’s Award

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Mānoa faculty member of the University of Hawaiʻi has first become the U.S. receiver of the Asia Pacific Tourism Association Founder’s Award. It identifies a scholar or an industry front-runner who has made important lifetime contributions in terms of enhancing tourism research and other practices of the industry in the region of Asia Pacific.

Jerry Agrusa, the professor, School of Travel Industry Management, received the award at the annual conference of APTA in Chiang Mai, Thailand on July this year.

Agrusa said that she is highly honored to get this Founder’s of Award Asia Pacific Tourism Association in memory of Professor Hai-Sik Sohn, APTA Founder. To be highlighted in the same company as respected heads related to hospitality and tourism in the Asia Pacific, like Professor Kaye Chon, School of Hotel and Tourism Management Dean at Hong Kong Polytechnic University is a major privilege.

She also added that Professor Sohn, on a personal note, was her hānai – Korean father who tutored her both in terms of professional life as well as personal life.

Today she is extremely thankful to the leadership of APTA for giving this credit of her contribution to research and education in the region of Asia Pacific.

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