Bangladeshi tourism professional Mohammad Zahirul Islam, widely known as Dalton Zahir, has been appointed ambassador for Asia by the International Tourism Film Festival Committee (CIFFT), an associate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism).
The appointment was announced in Vienna, Austria, on October 6. In his new role, Dalton Zahir will promote tourism films across Asian countries, encourage participation in international competitions and strengthen cooperation among tourism-related institutions. He will also help raise awareness of the International Tourism Film Awards throughout the region.
With more than 25 years of experience in tourism, hospitality, media and multinational corporations, Dalton Zahir is expected to help connect Asian institutions and professionals working in tourism promotion.
Responsibilities as Asia Ambassador
As Asia ambassador, Dalton Zahir will inform tourism agencies and filmmakers across the region about the committee’s activities and the International Tourism Film Awards.
His responsibilities will include building relationships with government tourism departments, tourism development agencies, film production companies, creative organisations and media outlets in different Asian countries. He will also encourage greater use of audiovisual productions in tourism marketing.
Dalton Zahir will provide guidance to institutions and filmmakers seeking to enter international competitions with films promoting tourist destinations, services and products. He will work to increase participation from Asian countries and help showcase their tourism promotional films to international audiences.
He will also coordinate communication between the committee’s headquarters in Vienna and its associate institutions across Asia.
According to the organisation’s director, Alexander V. Kamel, the appointment is part of an initiative to expand the committee’s presence in Asia and strengthen collaboration with professionals and institutions involved in producing and promoting high-quality tourism films.
More Than 25 Years of Professional Experience
Dalton Zahir has more than 25 years of experience spanning tourism, hospitality, media and multinational businesses.
He has served as head of sales and marketing at BRAC Hotel Group under BRAC Services Limited. His professional experience also includes senior positions at Rose View Hotel, Grand Sultan Tea Resort and Golf, Ocean Paradise and Lakeshore Hotel in Bangladesh.
His career has extended beyond tourism and hospitality into multinational technology and media companies. His professional profile lists experience with Motorola Mobile, Apple Computer, Philips Mobile and Fujifilm.
He is also the founder and chief executive officer of tourism- and media-focused initiatives, including Travelerkey, Europekey, Traveller Times and Welcome Bangladesh.
Alongside his professional activities, Dalton Zahir writes on literature, poetry, social issues and contemporary topics. He has published five books.
He has participated in initiatives promoting Bangladesh’s tourist destinations internationally, with a particular focus on the country’s tourism potential and the wider South Asian tourism industry.
Links With International Tourism Organisations
Before his appointment as Asia ambassador, Dalton Zahir was associated with several tourism and professional organisations.
He serves as a director of the Bangladesh Tourism Developers Association and is identified as president of the Philippine branch of an international ecotourism organisation.
He also serves as a global ambassador for the Argentina branch of Skal International, an international tourism professionals’ organisation, and is described as the first Bangladeshi member of Skal International’s Madrid branch.
His other affiliations include the American Photographic Association, the Bangladesh Tourism Directors Association, the Pacific Asia Tourism Association, and the European-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Through these professional connections, he has experience communicating with tourism agencies, industry organisations and media outlets in different countries. In his new role, he will work to connect Asian tourism filmmakers and promotional institutions with international competitions and collaborative opportunities.
How the International Tourism Film Festival Committee Works
Established in 1989 and based in Vienna, Austria, the International Tourism Film Festival Committee brings together tourism and commercial film festivals from different countries within an international competition framework.
The organisation operates as an associate member of UN Tourism. Its activities include presenting tourism promotional films, audiovisual productions and social media campaigns on an international platform.
Filmmakers from different countries participate in competitions organised through the committee’s network. Films accumulate points based on awards and recognition received at participating festivals. The points are then used to select leading tourism promotional films for the annual International Tourism Film Awards.
The competition covers five main categories: city tourism promotion, regional tourism promotion, country tourism promotion, tourism products and tourism services.
Films highlighting cities, regions, natural landscapes, cultural heritage, tourist attractions and tourism services can enter the relevant categories.
The committee’s competition framework is linked to 10 film festivals around the world. These include the Amorgos Tourism Film Festival in Greece, the International Tourism Film Festival in Portugal, the Cannes Commercial Media and Television Awards in France, and the International Commercial Film Festival in Vienna.
The network also includes tourism film festivals in Japan, Spain and Croatia, along with film and television awards in New York, a festival in Belgrade, Serbia, and other international events.
International Leadership and Partners
The International Tourism Film Festival Committee is led by director Alexander V. Kamel, with Hugo Marcos serving as secretary. Veronica Moreira handles communication with sales and participating institutions, while Carolina Fontana oversees marketing and public relations.
The committee also appoints ambassadors to represent it in different regions. Sarge Stanovkin of the United Kingdom represents Eurasia, Rozario Roup of Brazil represents Brazil, and Mustafa Judan of Morocco represents Africa and the Middle East. Dalton Zahir joins the group as the representative for Asia.
The organisation’s international partners include UN Tourism, the European Travel Commission, the Central American Tourism Organization, the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Skal International and research institutions focused on tourism and social issues. In its October 6 announcement from Vienna, the committee said Dalton Zahir would maintain communication with tourism agencies, filmmakers, government institutions and media organisations across Asia.
Tourism filmmakers and institutions interested in participating in international competitions can contact Dalton Zahir or the committee’s secretariat in Vienna. Director Alexander V. Kamel said the appointment is intended to strengthen cooperation with professionals and institutions involved in tourism promotional films across Asia.
