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Sessions of ITC2022 have been already accepted. We would like to express our gratitude to all researchers who supported us with sessions’ proposals. When submitting an abstract, choose the session included in a programme of International Tourism Congress ITC2022:
- Recovering tourism financial sustainability
- Framing literary and film-induced tourism into a sustainable perspective
- Climate challenges of sustainable development of tourism
- Glocal the new mantra for sustainable destination recovery and rebranding
- Tourism-related entrepreneurship in rural areas
- Tourism and outdoor sports recreation
- Accessible, sustainable and smart tourism: challenges and good practices
- The potential of European regions for the sustainable development of cultural tourism
- Special interest tourism and experiential tourism based on sustainable practices
- Youth tourism and sustainability
- Ontological, epistemological and methodological foundations of tourism research
- Air transportation and tourism destinations: strategies and policies
- Human capital in tourism sector
- Current challenges of education in tourism and hospitality
- Challenges of sustainable tourism in Baltic Sea Region
- Internet and communication technologies in tourism studies
Proposed by:
Luís LIMA SANTOS (CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation; Polytechnic of Leiria)
Conceição GOMES (CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation; Polytechnic of Leiria)
Antonio PEREZ BRITO (Universidad de Yucatán; CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation)
1. Recovering tourism financial sustainability
Background and aims: Considering that the main theme of the ITC2022 is sustainability, the topic of financial sustainability assumes special relevance, namely in the post-pandemic period. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic had devastating effects not only because of its length of time, but also because it limited and even prevented the mobility of people – which is fundamental to tourism.
On the other hand, the layoffs imposed on companies by the various governments led to a very significant reduction in their income, with the maintenance of some structural costs for long periods of time; the loss of liquidity and the lack of sustainability of companies jeopardised the survival of several tourism companies and led to the bankruptcy of many others.
A scenario of economic and financial recovery of tourism businesses will always depend on the capacity of managers to critically analyse the variables that influence the financial sustainability of businesses. These are reasons to invite researchers, academicians and professionals to discuss this topic presenting studies on sustainability in the main sub-sectors of tourism industry activities, namely:
- tourism services and travel trade (e.g., tour operators, travel agents, tourist information centres),
- hospitality (e.g., accommodation, restaurants and F&B),
- adventure, attractions and ecotourism (e.g., heritage sites and theme, national, and wildlife parks),
- recreation & entertainment,
- sports, events and conferences,
- transportation (e.g., airlines, car rental).
Proposed by:
Rita BALEIRO (CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation; University of Algarve)
Jacek KACZMAREK (University of Lodz)
2. Framing literary and film-induced tourism into a sustainable perspective
Background and aims: This session would be an excellent opportunity to invite contributions presenting conceptual, methodological and empirical advances on these two niches of cultural and heritage tourism in a sustainable perspective. The session aims at a solid interdisciplinary dialogue. It focuses on the development and research of literary tourism and film-induced tourism products and experiences that foster sustainable development of destinations and cultural heritage and examples of practices that endanger sustainability. Issues such as preservation, planning, strategies and partnerships at the tourist destinations would be discussed.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- literary tourism, film-induced tourism and sustainability: the visitors’ and the locals’ perspective,
- literary and film-induced tourism: preservation, planning, strategies and partnerships,
- comparative studies on literary and film-induced tourism,
- case studies of literary and film-induced tourism,
- community-based tourism, and literary and film-induced tourism,
- consumption of literary places and film locations,
- impacts of filmmaking and tourism on locations and communities,
- literary and film-induced tourism: education and paving the way for future generations,
- literary and film-induced tourism: authenticity and sustainability,
- challenges for literary and film-induced tourism,
- culturally sensitive literary and film-induced tourism.
Proposed by:
Krzysztof BŁAŻEJCZYK (Institute of Geography and Spatial Organisation of the Polish Academy of Sciences; Friendly Space – Friendly Climate Foundation)
3. Climate challenges of sustainable development of tourism
Background and aims: Climate is one of the important factors of tourism activity. For many visitors, a good, fair climate is a key element of a satisfactory stay. Thus, tour organisers and managers of tourism centres must take into consideration several challenges related to actual and future climate. Thinking about sustainable tourism they have to prepare appropriate information regarding possible weather, climate extremes (like heat waves, heavy rains, strong winds etc.) and climate stress in tourists travelling from far destinations. The session will be an excellent place for discussion which climate information should be the most efficient in sustainable development of the tourism industry. We expect guest papers referring to both, current climate conditions and to future climate.
Proposed by:
Anukrati SHARMA (University of Kota; Rajasthan ILD Skills University; International University of Tourism & Hospitality)
4. Glocal the new mantra for sustainable destination recovery and rebranding
Background and aims: Local communities play a crucial role in tourism development. They are considered legitimate and moral stakeholders in tourism development. To enhance the trust and confidence of locals in the tourism industry, it is important for the local community to be involved in policy and decision-making. The proposed session for ITC2022 will address issues and topics related to. The session will focus on the SDGs for sustainable tourism development. Meticulous observation of hidden opportunities and challenges for the involvement of the community in the tourism industry is seen in each topic. Participation of the local community in the tourism and hospitality industry benefits not only the local economy but also contributes to a society holistically.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- supporting local entrepreneurs and start-ups (local cuisine, local crafts, textiles, etc.),
- critical thinking along with creativities and innovation for bringing all together with newness in curriculum designing and tourism education system,
- participation of the community in tourism and hospitality (home stays, guesthouses, small hotels, tour guides, indigenous festivals),
- local community and eco-tourism development,
- addressing barriers to local community participation in tourism and hospitality,
- participation of rural and village communities in tourism,
- agriculture tourism as a possible new market post-pandemic,
- sustainability through cultural preservation and local community,
- harnessing the hidden talents of local people in tourism and hospitality.
Proposed by:
Kate TORKINGTON (CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation; University of Algarve; TrELMA Project)
5. Tourism-related entrepreneurship in rural areas
Background and aims: This session proposes to bring together researchers working on tourism-related rural entrepreneurship in different socio-geographical contexts across Europe and throughout the world. The main aim of the session is to explore and compare how these types of entrepreneurial activities contribute to an impact on the sustainable development of rural spaces, including remote areas, sparsely populated areas and less-favoured areas. The rationale for this research interest is underpinned by the urgent need to rethink and rebuild tourism in a post-COVID-19 era, along with the current trend towards the increasing demand for and practice of tourism in rural areas. At the same time, entrepreneurship is seen as playing a potentially key role in the sustainable socio-economic development of rural areas, as long as all stakeholders (public and private enterprise, local populations and tourists themselves) work together to cooperate in this goal. Additionally, recent research in different geographical contexts is revealing the important role of inward migration (both national and international) in the development of tourism entrepreneurship in rural spaces that have previously been characterised by outward migration and population decline.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- how entrepreneurship is integrated into national and regional policies for sustainable rural development,
- opportunities for and challenges of tourism entrepreneurial activity in remote and sparsely populated areas,
- local actors and entrepreneurial activities in rural areas,
- pro-rural migration and tourism entrepreneurship,
- balancing business and lifestyle aspirations in rural tourism entrepreneurship,
- theoretical, empirical and methodological foci on alternatives to growth- and market-orientations in tourism entrepreneurship,
- investigations of the potential for and the impacts of tourism-related rural entrepreneurial practices as part of the phenomenon of lifestyle mobilities and migration.
Proposed by:
Maria João FERREIRA CUSTÓDIO (University of Algarve)
Elsa Cristina SACRAMENTO PEREIRA (University of Algarve)
6. Tourism and outdoor sports recreation
Background and aims: This thematic area aims to discuss research developments and new insights related to tourism and outdoor sports recreation, encompassing theoretical and empirical essays. The presentation and discussion of methodologies and results in each or through different destinations scales (from local to global) and stakeholders’ perspectives are encouraged. This is an area of knowledge where the tourism strategies and markets are constantly moving, namely due to its close connection with sustainable development in its several dimensions: natural, social, and economic phenomena. The practice of sport activities in nature can constitute a means to fulfil the desire to travel and recreation associated with memorable and authentic experiences. In this context, the discussion should cover different perspectives of tourism and outdoor sport recreation considering the “Sport Tourism and Development Goals (SDGs)” from UNWTO, i.e., how tourism and outdoor sport recreation can contribute to territory sustainability, peace, economic development, nature preservation and social inclusion, among other critical aspects included in the Sustainable Development Goals.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- outdoor sport recreation marketing and communication,
- outdoor sports recreation and tourism sustainability,
- tourism experiences in outdoor sports recreation,
- branding strategies in outdoor sports recreation,
- outdoor sports recreation products,
- outdoor sport recreation impacts,
- outdoor sport recreation events.
Proposed by:
Eugénia DEVILE (Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra; CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation)
Andreia MOURA (Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra; CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation)
Alina ZAJADACZ (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan; GeoLabTur. Geographical Laboratory of Tourism)
7. Accessible, sustainable and smart tourism: challenges and good practices
Background and aims: Accessible tourism (also known as access tourism, universal tourism, inclusive tourism, tourism for all, and barrier-free tourism) is adapted to the needs of all people with disabilities or not, including those with mobility, hearing, sight, cognitive, or intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, with temporary disabilities, older persons and families with children.
Tourism can play an important role to create a more inclusive society. This depends on the adoption of new approaches and strategies to promote the accessibility of tourism services around all the tourism value chain, based on sustainable tourism principles. Although there is increasing interest in this field, research is still scarce and limited. The pandemic period increased digitization and social exclusion, a reality that strengthens the need to rethink social innovation mechanisms, such as the access to tourism practice. Accessibility and sustainability encourage the academic discussion on the importance of thinking of tourism as a relevant dimension of the modern society, which is still inaccessible to a major part of the population.
Thus, this session seeks to foster the debate around tourism in accessible, sustainable and smart contexts, to stimulate and explore emerging paradigms of value and knowledge co-creation in the marketplace that will lay the foundations for new tourism ecosystems. In sum, the goal of this session is to provide a forum for focused discussions on different approaches that could enhance the articulation between sustainable, smart and accessible tourism.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- theoretical issues of accessible tourism,
- sustainable accessible tourism in practice,
- limitations, barriers, challenges in the development of accessible tourism,
- smart accessible destinations,
- accessible tourism market,
- travel constraints faced by people with special needs,
- travel behaviour of people with special needs,
- accessibility of tourism supply,
- good practices in destinations for everyone,
- smart destinations and accessible tourism,
- social tourism,
- innovation and marketing concerning special needs,
- human resources and accessible tourism,
- ethics and social responsibility in accessible tourism.
Proposed by:
Krzysztof JANC (University of Wroclaw; H2020 Project SPOT)
8. The potential of European regions for the sustainable development of cultural tourism
Background and aims: Cultural tourism is constantly evolving, changing its face, from communing with and getting to know the high culture to experiencing the ‘everyday culture’ of visited destinations. Today it is not only exploring popular cultural resources, mainly historical sites, and museums but also experiencing intangible heritage. The transformation of cultural tourism will continue due to changing lifestyles, evolving forms of culture, and traditional and digital innovations. Cultural tourism will also face many challenges, including a very important aspect of its sustainable development.
The session intends to discuss a new approach to understanding and addressing cultural tourism and promote the development of disadvantaged areas. We also would like to exchange experience on the role of cultural tourism in creating place-based identities and how these link to broader processes of regional and European culture. We welcome both theoretical and empirical papers that offer new perspectives and/or evidence of cultural tourism.
The session “The potential of European regions for the sustainable development of cultural tourism” is co-hosted by the Horizon2020 project SPOT. Social and innovative Platform On cultural Tourism and its potential towards deepening Europeanisation.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- enrichment of the scientific evidence base for understanding cultural tourism,
- good practices in the cultural heritage field including cultural, environmental, and social development responses to the challenges of sustainability,
- cross-border cooperation, regional and local cooperation, both to avoid overpressure of cultural tourism and to promote its sustainable development,
- demonstrating ways in which cultural tourism can be used to develop social and economic cohesion,
- developing a greater understanding of the different challenges facing contrasting types of cultural tourism in European countries.
Proposed by:
Catarina MARTINS (Instituto Politécnico de Bragança)
Dália LIBERATO (Polytechnic of Porto)
Vitor AMBRÓSIO (Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies)
Pedro LIBERATO (Polytechnic of Porto)
Bruno SOUSA (Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave)
9. Special interest tourism and experiential tourism based on sustainable practices
Background and aims: Special interest tourism and experiential tourism have been a topic of debate in past decades, but it still is one of the most current topics of investigation. The importance of those types of tourism stems from the acknowledgment of increasingly higher levels of customization of tourism experiences driven by specific interests of individuals and groups. It is expected that tourism engages visitors in authentic, memorable travel activities, revealed over time, that engage the senses, are inherently personal and make connections on a physical, emotional, religious, spiritual, intellectual, or social level, based on innovative and sustainable practices.
Tourism has the potential to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals and this is a major focus on tourism research. From Eco-tourism, to olive oil tourism to astro-tourism there are several examples on how niche markets can put sustainability in practice. In fact, tourism resources produce niche tourism products developed in a sustainable approach to benefit local communities.
Nature based tourism also includes touristic products that can be classified as special interest tourism and an ongoing research on integrating tourism and sustainability must be promoted. In fact, developing touristic products through sustainability guidelines promotes development and prevents nature based tourism and other types of tourism niche markets to damage sociocultural and natural environments. Furthermore, both special interest tourism and experiential tourism encompass the different products that can be promoted through the roots of sustainability particularly in rural and sometimes remote areas. Tourism has been considered a driver for economic development in many rural peripheral areas where mass tourism has no place. Niche tourism products can promote the development of these regions since they can be community based and the discussion around this topic must also be promoted.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- special interest tourism,
- experiential tourism,
- nature-based tourism,
- astro-tourism,
- eco-tourism,
- creative tourism,
- event tourism,
- food tourism,
- educational tourism,
- health and wellness tourism,
- adventure tourism,
- religious tourism,
- religious and spiritual tourism experience,
- olive-oil tourism,
- drivers of experience co-creation in food-and-wine tourism
- development of tourism in small regions,
- emotion and storytelling,
- experiential authenticity,
- innovation and value-creation in the experience-based tourism,
- photographic tourism,
- slow tourism experiences,
- slum tourism,
- dark tourism,
- tourists’ memorable hotel experiences,
- urban tourism experience.
Proposed by:
Márcio RIBEIRO MARTINS (Instituto Politécnico de Bragança)
10. Youth tourism and sustainability
Background and aims: In recent decades the world has experienced accelerated demographic growth that has led to the largest generation of young people in the history of humanity. According to UNWTO, youth is recognized as a major force for development and social change, with the potential to drive sustainable development in tourism. Before COVID-19 pandemic, the number of young travellers had already reached 336 million, accounting for 23% of international arrivals and being responsible for 333 billion US dollars in tourism receipts.
Youth tourism includes all independent trips undertaken by people aged 16-29 which are motivated by a desire to experience other cultures, build life experience, and/or benefit from formal and informal learning opportunities. Considering their rapid growth as well as its social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts, youth tourism is an increasingly important market. As described by UNWTO, youth travel is high value and resilient. Young travellers are recognized for attracting other visitors to the destinations and for spending their money directly with local communities, making an important contribution to other industries.
Young generations are also considered to be an important stakeholder in the efforts of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly Goal 8 on economic growth and jobs, and Goal 12 on sustainable consumption and production as they can lead a transformation into a more responsible way of travelling.
Youth has the power to change the world and the recent youth-led movements fighting global warming and climate change are excellent examples of the persuasive power and influence that young people have in the current globalised society. All this potential can and should be used to support a more sustainable tourism, directly involving young people in the discussions and actions related to the future of tourism. For youth, travel is not just a way to discover other places. It is also a form of learning, meeting other people and exploring other cultures and host communities in a more sustainable way.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- youth and sustainable tourism,
- millennial and generation z markets,
- backpackers, flashpackers and other subsegments,
- voluntourism,
- working holiday makers,
- post-COVID-19 changes in youth tourism,
- new products in youth tourism,
- tourism development and planning,
- digital marketing applied to youth market,
- destination marketing applied to youth market,
- hostels and low-cost accommodations,
- youth tourism and resilience,
- information and communication technologies in the hospitality and youth tourism industry.
Proposed by:
Leszek BUTOWSKI (University of Lodz)
11. Ontological, epistemological and methodological foundations of tourism research
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- The issue of ontology (or ontologies) of tourism: Is there actually such a thing as a tourism reality? If so, what is its mode of existence? What entities constitute the domain of tourism? What is their ontological status? How are these entities formed and what are their characteristics? How do they exist in the world?
- The issue of tourism epistemology: Is the reality of tourism knowable at all? If so, to what extent is this reality knowable? What is the epistemic status of knowledge about tourism?
- The methodological perspective of studies on tourism: What are the methodological approaches applied in tourism studies? -multi, -inter, -cross, -trans disciplinary methodologies in tourism research; How to interpret qualitative and quantitative data – is it possible to construct a common foundation for both types?
Proposed by:
António ALMEIDA (University of Madeira; CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation)
Susana TELES (University of Madeira; CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation)
Vânia COSTA (Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave; CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation)
12. Air transportation and tourism destinations: strategies and policies
Background and aims: The sharp growth of tourism since 1960 is one of the agents responsible for the significant increase in demand for different modes of transport in Europe, including, naturally, passenger air transport. The choice of means of transport will be based on the duration of the trip, the number of people in the group, the income available for the trip, the availability of seats by the carrier and the flexibility of the means of transport.
Cooper, Fletcher, Gilbert and Wanhill (1993) consider that travelling by air was probably the most important transport innovation of the 20th century. Since the first commercial aircraft entered service, air transport has facilitated globalisation. With air transport, it became possible to move passengers in the shortest period of time ever, and consequently, there was an increase in demand for long-distance trips.
The air transport sector is significant for tourism, both growing in parallel terms, constituting two interdependent segments. Any changes made to aviation policy will have an impact on the evolution of tourism, either adversely or beneficially.
The fast developments taking place in the air transportation industry require a careful understanding of the trends and strategies implemented by the various agents involved in the industry. Moreover, there is a need to stimulate and design new policies reshaping the industry. A wide range of topics with policy implications may be covered, including but not limited to airline economics and policy (pricing, network, subsidies and ownership), airport economics and policy (ownership, investment, pricing), environmental policy issues (including carbon tax, emission trading), airline and intermodal competition, merger and alliances, as well as regulation and open sky agreements.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- air transport and the development of tourist destinations,
- air transportation and regional economic development,
- airline network analysis,
- sustainability in air transportation,
- airline economics and policy,
- airport economics and policy,
- air transportation governance, economics and policy,
- air transportation system performance measurement and management,
- economic and cost/benefit analyses to support modernization.
Proposed by:
Vânia COSTA (Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave; CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation)
Andreia MOURA (Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra; CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation)
Maria do Rosário MIRA (Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra; CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation)
13. Human capital in tourism sector
Background and aims: The global economy, based on knowledge and technological evolution, has brought new challenges of competitive differentiation to organisations, particularly organisations based in services providing, such has the tourism industry.
Tourism counts with the human resources as a competitive advantage to the organisations since it influences the quality of the final product presented to the tourists as well as to the satisfaction and loyalty of the customers of the different tourist destinations. The qualifications of the human resources of the tourism sector are fundamental for the development and planning of the different tourist destinations, and the vocational training and development of professional skills but especially personal and/or behavioural skills are key factors that allow the elevation of the level of competitiveness and sustainability of destinations, responding this way to the constant evolution of the demands of tourists and the tourist market. Organisations should invest in the qualification of their workers, through education and vocational training according to sustainable interests and objectives.
In this sense, the improvement of skills of the workers, both professional and personal, are key factors for the development and planning of more sustainable tourism destinations as well as the global improvement of competitiveness and quality of the sector and also allows to respond to the evolution of the labour market and the demands of more sustainability concerned tourists.
We invite contributions and different perspectives that focus on the trends and challenges of the tourism sector, that allow better educational planning to address destination sustainability.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- profile of human capital in tourism,
- tourism human resources management,
- trends and skill needs in tourism,
- intellectual capital in tourism,
- tourism human resources and tourism education,
- tourism business curriculum.
Proposed by:
Goretti SILVA (Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo)
Justyna MOKRAS-GRABOWSKA (University of Lodz)
14. Current challenges of education in tourism and hospitality
Background and aims: Increasingly, tourism education at all levels and for all types of jobs requires qualifications and training that can equip future and current employees with adaptable, agile and resilient skills to meet the rapidly changing needs and trends of the tourism industry. This involves not only the acquisition of new skills, but also lifelong education and ongoing reskilling and retraining.
The future of tourism education poses many challenges aimed at meeting the needs of the industry. The education system requires the adoption of strategies that support a holistic approach where the focus is on building more universal and transversal skills and competences that are used at any hierarchical level, position or sub-sector of tourism. Digitalization offers numerous opportunities to improve training and provide access to new jobs; and support for the sustainability agenda should be seen as a key subject in all courses promoting social equity, from staff to service, community and customers, as well as more efficient management of resources.
On the other hand, it is increasingly evident that the supply of higher education courses in Tourism should adopt more active methodological and pedagogical approaches, student-centred and in greater articulation with the industry that promote the acquisition of key skills for employability by young professionals.
This session therefore aims to present cases, share experiences in which the focus is on the adoption and testing of methodological approaches and their results in the stimulation and development of key skills of tourism students.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- tourism education system,
- opportunities and challenges for tomorrow tourism education,
- tourism curriculum,
- international tourism education,
- tourism education challenges and futures,
- sustainable tourism education,
- creative didactics methods and interactive education in tourism,
- tourism higher education curriculums review,
- field work educational aspects.
Proposed by:
Anette OXENSWÄRDH (Uppsala University; NST. Network for Sustainable Tourism)
15. Challenges of sustainable tourism in Baltic Sea Region
Background and aims: Identification of recent challenges of sustainable tourism in Baltic Sea Region requires an evolutionary approach with particular focus on environmental, economic, social and political issues. The history of centrally governed economies and totalitarian regimes of former Soviet republics and dependent on Soviet Russia countries significantly influenced the whole region, its inhabitants, and their social behaviours including tourism and travels. Thus, discussion on sustainable tourism in BSR requires better understanding of political, economic, social, and cultural processes shaping attitudes, needs and behaviours of people living in the region, especially in eastern part of the BSR which covers the countries directly witnessing the process of economic transition during the last thirty years.
The need to protect the natural beauty of rural landscape and outstanding rural traditions of BSR territories, sustainable tourism and all related concepts like ecotourism, transformative tourism, nature-based tourism, agritourism, are seen recently as a significant factor determining sustainable development of rural areas in countries of the BSR.
Climate change is expected to significantly transform tourism in coastal areas of the BSR. Discussion on future change of structure and size of tourism flows within the BSR, and to the BSR is needed. On the one hand, due to increase of temperature in the regions of the North, increase of domestic and inbound summer tourism is expected in the BSR. On the other hand, due to the same reasons, the willingness of inhabitants of the BSR countries to travel out of the region during the summer period might be significantly reduced. In consequence, an increase of intraregional tourism in the BSR seems very probable. Climate change followed by change of size and structure of tourism flows significantly induce the economy, including the tourism sector, in coastal areas of the BSR. As climate change might result in an extension of the high summer season in the BSR countries, mass tourism might become a more serious problem than ever before. On the other hand, the need for sustainable alternatives out of the summer season is still vital.
Finally, sustainable tourism in BSR should be discussed from a governmental perspective. More than twenty years of intensifying cooperation between countries of BSR resulted in strong integration within this macro-region compared to other European Union territories. Recently, BSR is identified as the very first macro-region of the European Union to implement a transnational strategy of development aiming tourism as a priority.
The session “Challenges of sustainable tourism in Baltic Sea Region” is co-hosted by The Baltic University Programme.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- understanding and practising sustainability by stakeholders of tourism in BSR,
- environmental impacts of tourism, and on tourism development in BSR,
- sustainable tourism development paths in BSR,
- significance of interregional tourism in BSR in times of crisis events.
Proposed by:
Maciej ADAMIAK (ReasonField Lab)
Tomasz NAPIERAŁA (University of Lodz; CiTUR. Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation)
16. Internet and communication technologies in tourism studies
Background and aims: The rapid development of information and communication technologies, mobile technologies, and geographic information systems is widely evidenced. From the scientific point of view, internetization and technological development resulting in unprecedented possibilities for conducting more precise and comprehensive research on tourist phenomena. There is increasing use of the Internet, including social media, both by tourism enterprises and tourists willing to leave virtual traces of their tourist activity, e.g. in the form of online ratings and reviews, videos or photos of places or attractions visited, location and mobility sensor data and more. As a result, new opportunities and challenges have arisen in assessing the consumed spatial services or even evaluating the geographical space attractiveness of destinations which is highly important, especially for tourism.
The Internet, electronic word-of-mouth communication (eWOM) mainly facilitated the development of overwhelming resources of tourist-generated content. Tourists share and seek experience. Thus, the eWOM solved the main issue of inexperienced tourism demand – the lack of valuable and trustable information about the characteristics of services offered in tourist destinations. It needs to be underlined that the role of eWOM might be considered both from a supply perspective (destinations or tourism companies) and from the customer perspective. Analysing large quantities of tourist-generated content requires a big-data approach, including techniques and methodologies. Recently, the achievements of machine learning – one of the most significant IT studies – should be emphasised.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- the role of electronic word-of-mouth communication (eWOM) in tourism,
- empirical evidence of big data and machine learning application in tourism studies,
- spatial data science for assessment of the attractiveness of tourism space,
- ethical, legal, and technological issues of using data from social media channels.
