Closure of Boğaziçi University Tourism Department; End of a 50-Year Legacy

A Legacy Sidelined The Tourism Administration Department of Boğaziçi Üniversitesi, founded in 1976, is now on the verge of a bitter transformation. According to reports published in July 2026, the university management has reduced the student admission quota for the 2026-2027 academic year to "zero" [1]. This action, which signifies the complete cessation of the department's educational activities in the near future, is considered not just an administrative decision but a blow to the scientific body of Turkey's tourism industry. The school, which began its activities as a two-year program and transitioned into a four-year bachelor's degree in 1996, now faces the risk of dissolution after half a century of continuous operation [4].

Why is this Department Vital for Turkey? The importance of the Boğaziçi Tourism Department lies not only in its history. This section is the only department in all of Turkey ranked among the top 100 tourism and hospitality management programs globally in the prestigious QS rankings [3]. In a country that earns more than $60 billion annually from the tourism industry, closing an institution that trains top-tier managers for hotels, airlines, and travel agencies is viewed by many experts as "strategic self-harm" [2]. Professor Şükrü Yarcan, one of the prominent faculty members of this section, emphasizes that this school has been a bridge between academic theories and the practical needs of the industry [1].

Details of the Controversial Decision and Wave of Protests The decision to zero the student admission quota was made without consulting the department's faculty members and was communicated to the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) [4]. This led graduates and students to protest on campus under the slogan "Tourism Management cannot be closed" [2]. The Boğaziçi University Alumni Association (BÜMED) also issued a statement calling for the immediate reversal of this decision, noting that weakening the academic staff and transferring professors to other departments is part of a systematic plan to destroy the academic identity of this faculty [3].

Long-term Consequences for the Tourism Industry While Turkey's regional competitors, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are investing heavily in tourism universities and attracting international professors, Turkey is losing one of its most prestigious educational brands [4]. Experts warn that this move could set a dangerous precedent for other state universities and lead to a decline in the quality of human resources in the country's most sensitive economic sector. Given that graduates of this center currently hold key management positions globally, the void created by the lack of new entrants in the coming years will be clearly felt [1].