ICTR – Call for Papers

Mini Track on Sustainable Tourism and the Circular Economy

Mini Track Chair: Dr Christopher J Moon, Middlesex University, UK

This track will explore the latest developments in the use of circular economy concepts in the tourism industry. Papers reviewing best practices in sustainable tourism or highlighting innovative practices are particularly welcome. This includes the tourism industry, sustainable processes, sustainable transport, sustainable stays (hotels, other establishments, local consumption, waste sorting, etc.), feedback between tourists and providers to improve the sustainable tourism global offer; data on sustainable tourism demands and expectations; innovation and sustainability.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Circular economy in tourism
• Energy and carbon savings in establishments
• Use of recycled materials
• Eco-friendly sourcing / organic
• Eco-certifications / labelling
• Energy positive
• Zero km

Mini Track on Health, Wellness and Medical Tourism in the Digital Era

Mini Track Chair: Dr. Michaelle Deonarain, Cape Peninsula University of Technology Cape Town, South Africa

The integration of health and wellness into tourism activities has gained momentum worldwide, creating an opportunity for emerging digital technologies to reshape global tourism systems and enhance destination competitiveness. This mini track explores intersectoral collaboration between the tourism, hospitality and healthcare sectors for the promotion of health, wellness and medical tourism. Additionally, the track aims to explore how smart technologies, artificial intelligence, blockchain, automation, digital platforms and data-driven innovation are transforming health, wellness and medical tourism experiences.

The track focuses on the development of integrated tourism ecosystems that connect healthcare providers, wellness practitioners, hospitality organisations and destination stakeholders to deliver holistic and patient-centred experiences. Particular attention is given to smart tourism systems, digital healthcare integration, wellness innovation, sustainability and consumer experience management within both developed and emerging economies.

The mini track welcomes conceptual, empirical and interdisciplinary research addressing technological innovation, destination management, digital transformation, policy development and sustainable practices within health, wellness and medical tourism sectors. Contributions related to wellness retreats, preventative healthcare tourism, spa and holistic tourism, digital health systems, hospitality-healthcare integration and smart destination frameworks are encouraged.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Artificial intelligence in health, wellness and medical tourism
• Smart wellness tourism ecosystems and digital health integration
• Blockchain applications in healthcare and tourism
• Wellness tourism, preventative healthcare and holistic experiences
• Digital wellness and traveller experiences
• Sustainability and ethics in health, wellness and medical tourism

Mini Track on Human-Centric Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence in Tourism

Mini Track Chair: Prof. Sofia Gomes, Research on Economics, Management and Information Technologies (REMIT), Portucalense University, Porto, Portugal

Digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the tourism and hospitality sectors, creating new opportunities for innovation, efficiency, personalization, and value creation. However, the successful integration of these technologies depends not only on technological capabilities but also on their alignment with human needs, organizational cultures, ethical principles, and sustainable development goals.
This mini-track aims to explore the role of human-centric digital transformation in tourism, focusing on how AI and emerging digital technologies can enhance visitor experiences, support organizational performance, foster innovation, and contribute to more sustainable and inclusive tourism systems. It welcomes theoretical, empirical, and practice-oriented contributions that examine the opportunities, challenges, and implications of digitalization across tourism destinations, hospitality organizations, cultural attractions, transportation systems, and tourism-related services.
Particular attention will be given to research addressing the interaction between technology and people, including employees, tourists, managers, local communities, and policymakers. The mini-track encourages interdisciplinary perspectives on digital skills development, responsible AI, ethical governance, organizational change, and the future of work in tourism.
By bringing together scholars and practitioners from diverse disciplines, this mini-track seeks to advance knowledge on how digital transformation and AI can be implemented in ways that are innovative, sustainable, ethical, and centered on human well-being.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Human-centric AI aoption and digital transformation strategies in tourism and hospitality
• Smart tourism, digital visitor experiences, and personalization technologies
• AI, sustainability, and responsible innovation in tourism destinations
• Digital skills, workforce transformation, and the future of work in tourism
• Ethical, governance, privacy, and trust challenges associated with AI applications
• Organizational change, digital leadership, and technology-enabled service innovation

Mini Track on  Designing Healthy Futures for Tourism and Hospitality Work

Mini Track Chair: Dr. Mafalda Patuleia, Lusófona University

Tourism and hospitality are people-intensive sectors where service quality, organisational resilience and destination competitiveness depend strongly on the well-being, motivation and sustainability of the workforce. Despite its economic importance, the sector faces persistent challenges, including high staff turnover, precarious employment conditions, and significant labour shortages.

This mini-track invites contributions that explore how tourism and hospitality organisations can design healthier, more inclusive and more sustainable work environments. It welcomes theoretical, empirical and applied research addressing employee well-being, healthy workplaces, decent work, organisational culture, leadership, psychosocial risk prevention, mental health, social dialogue, human resource practices, workforce retention, employee engagement and human sustainability.

The track is particularly interested in studies that connect individual well-being with organisational and sectoral transformation, moving beyond fragmented approaches to work-related health. Contributions may examine hotels, tourism enterprises, destinations, education and training contexts, or broader tourism ecosystems. Comparative, interdisciplinary and practice-oriented perspectives are especially encouraged.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Employee well-being, mental health and psychosocial risk prevention in tourism and hospitality work.
• Healthy workplace ecosystems, organisational culture and human-centred management practices.
• Leadership, employee participation, engagement and retention in tourism and hospitality organisations.
• Work-life balance, decent work, job quality and sustainable career pathways in the sector.
• Social dialogue, co-designed interventions and evidence-based practices for healthier workplaces.
• Human sustainability, organisational resilience and the future of work in tourism and hospitality.

Mini Track on Female Entrepreneurship in Tourism

Mini Track Chairs: Prof. Federico de Andreis, University “Giustino Fortunato”, Benevento Italy; UNAM – Universidad del Atlántico Medio, Las Palmas, Spain | D.ssa Giulia Vincenti, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy

Female entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as a key driver of innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness within the tourism industry. Women-led businesses contribute significantly to local economic development, destination attractiveness, community resilience, and the diversification of tourism products and services. At the same time, female entrepreneurs continue to face specific challenges related to access to finance, business networks, leadership opportunities, digital transformation, and work-life balance.
This mini-track aims to provide an interdisciplinary forum for scholars and practitioners interested in exploring the role of female entrepreneurs and women-led SMEs in contemporary tourism systems. Contributions may address theoretical, methodological, and empirical perspectives on entrepreneurship in hospitality, cultural tourism, rural tourism, sustainable tourism, and destination management.
Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, women-owned tourism enterprises, innovation and business development, social entrepreneurship, digitalization, leadership and governance, destination competitiveness, tourism resilience, gender-sensitive policies, local and regional development, and the social and economic impacts of female entrepreneurship on tourism destinations.
The track welcomes qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research, as well as comparative and international case studies. By fostering dialogue among researchers and practitioners, the session seeks to advance knowledge on the contribution of female entrepreneurship to the transformation and sustainable development of tourism destinations worldwide.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Female Entrepreneurship in Tourism and Hospitality
• Women-Led SMEs and Tourism Development
• Tourism Innovation and Women Entrepreneurs
• Sustainable Tourism and Female Entrepreneurship
• Leadership, Resilience, and Business Growth in Tourism SMEs
• Gender Equality and Destination Competitiveness

Mini Track on Culture, Identity, and Sustainability: New Paradigms in Tourism Experiences

Mini Track Chairs: Dr. Alexandra Lavaredas, Polytecnhic University of Leiria, Citur

This mini-track invites discussion on the intersection between cultural heritage, identity (both individual and collective), and sustainable tourism practices. In a globalized world, where human mobility (including the return of emigrant descendants and new migratory lifestyles) redefines the relationship with destinations, it is crucial to analyze how culture is experienced, preserved, and commercialized. This space aims to explore how tourism can promote an authentic dialogue between visitors and local communities, combating massification through the valuation of meaningful experiences. The track welcomes theoretical and empirical contributions that address: the impact of identity on the tourist experience; tourism as a tool for cultural reintegration; sustainable management strategies in low-density destinations; and the co-creation of value-added experiences in the tourism sector. The goal is to map trends that harmonize economic competitiveness with social well-being and the identity integrity of destinations.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Identity and belonging in tourist destinations.
• Sustainable tourism and management of low-density destinations.
• The influence of cultural heritage on tourist choices.
• Co-creation of tourism experiences and local value.
• Human mobility and its impact on tourism development.
• Host policies and social sustainability.