ICTR Call for Papers

• Academic Papers
• Case Studies
• Work in-Progress Papers
  
• PhD Papers
• Masters Papers
• Posters and Presentations
• Non- Academic or Practitioner Contributions

Aims and Scope

The primary aim of the ICTR is to foster academic and professional dialogue on the diverse aspects of tourism, promoting research that contributes to the sustainable development of the tourism industry worldwide. The conference seeks to bridge the gap between theory and practice by encouraging contributions that offer both theoretical insights and practical implications. It also aims to provide a collaborative environment where participants can engage in knowledge exchange, network with peers, and explore emerging trends and issues in tourism.

The scope of the conference is broad and inclusive, covering various areas of tourism research. It welcomes contributions from multiple disciplines, including hospitality, economics, management, sociology, geography, cultural studies, environmental science, and technology, reflecting the complex and interdisciplinary nature of tourism studies.

Topics Covered

The call for papers for the ICTR conference asked for contributions that considered the following topics. In addition the committee welcomed papers on a number of specialist mini-tracks which can be seen at the end of this list.

Tourism Management and Marketing

• strategies and practices involved in managing and marketing tourism destinations and businesses
• destination branding
• digital marketing
• customer experience management
• the role of social media in shaping tourist behaviour.

Sustainable Tourism

• sustainable tourism practices
• mitigating the environmental impact of tourism
• ecotourism
• responsible tourism
• the management of natural and cultural resources
• the balance between tourism development and environmental conservation.

Tourism Economics

• the economic impacts of tourism at local, regional, and national levels
• tourism demand modelling
• the economic contribution of tourism to GDP
• the role of tourism in economic development
• the challenges of tourism taxation and pricing.

Cultural and Heritage Tourism

• culture and heritage in tourism
• leveraging historical and cultural assets for tourism development
• the preservation of cultural heritage sites
• the commodification of culture
• the impact of tourism on local communities and traditions.

Tourism and Technology

• the integration of technological innovations in the tourism industry
• the role of artificial intelligence, big data analytics, virtual and augmented reality in tourism experiences
• the impact of the sharing economy on traditional tourism models.

Tourism Policy and Governance

• the role of government and international organisations in shaping tourism policy and regulation
• tourism planning
• public-private partnerships
• tourism governance structures
• the impact of global tourism policies on local practices.

Tourism and Globalization

• the effects of globalization on tourism
• the homogenization of tourism experiences
• the challenges and opportunities presented by international tourism
• the role of tourism in promoting global understanding and cultural exchange.

Tourism and Society

• the social and cultural implications of tourism development
• the role of tourism in shaping social identities
• the ways in which tourism influences local communities including overtourism and tourist induced gentrification
• the ethical dimensions of tourism

Tourism Education and Training

• curriculum development
• the role of vocational training in tourism
• the challenges of meeting industry needs through educational programs

Crisis Management in Tourism

• the vulnerability of the tourism industry to natural disasters, political instability, and pandemics
• strategies for crisis management and recovery
• risk assessment and resilience building
• the long-term impacts of crises on tourism destinations

Mini-Tracks

Experts in the field proposed mini tracks on the following topics. Papers accepted on these topics after the double-blind peer review process will be presented as mini tracks at the conference and are also published in these proceedings. 

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
  
  

Nature, Adventure and Regenerative Tourism: Rethinking Wellbeing in Contemporary Tourism 
Mini Track Chair: Prof. Francisco Silva and Prof. Tiago Lopes, Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies Centre for Geographical Studies, IGOT, University of Lisbon

As environmental and social challenges intensify, tourism is increasingly reimagined as a transformative force for both planetary and human wellbeing. This mini track explores how nature-based, adventure, and regenerative tourism are reshaping contemporary understandings of wellbeing—moving beyond individual leisure or escapism to encompass ecological restoration, cultural revitalisation, and destination resilience. Regenerative tourism diverges from conventional sustainability by seeking not only to reduce harm but to actively restore ecosystems, empower communities, and foster meaningful relationships between people and place. Within this paradigm, nature and adventure tourism experiences—from rewilding landscapes to low-impact outdoor sports and participatory conservation—can promote emotional, physical, and spiritual renewal for visitors, while also contributing to the healing of damaged environments and social systems. This track invites scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to critically engage with the potential of regenerative and nature-based tourism, including its more active and immersive forms, such as adventure tourism, as vehicles for wellbeing and transformation. Submissions may address theoretical approaches, empirical case studies, or policy innovations related to co-created experiences, local knowledge, inclusive governance, and the measurement of regenerative outcomes for people and the planet. By foregrounding wellbeing as an ecological, social, and cultural construct, this session aims to foster dialogue on how tourism can evolve from an extractive model to a regenerative and wellbeing-driven system—supporting a more hopeful, holistic, and responsible future for tourism.

• Regenerative tourism principles, practices, metrics and case studies
• Nature-based and adventure tourism as pathways to physical and mental wellbeing
• Community-led regeneration and local empowerment through tourism
• Design of transformative and immersive visitor experiences in natural and adventure settings
• Challenges of implementing regenerative and low-impact models in commercial tourism contexts
• Policy frameworks and governance models supporting regenerative and wellbeing-centred tourism

Aeronautical, Space and Military Tourism
Mini Track Chair: Dr. Carlos José Dias Rouco, Lusófona University , Lisbon, Portugal

As the boundaries of travel extend beyond Earth and into the stratosphere, tourism is entering a new era shaped by technological advancement, geopolitical shifts, and cross-sector innovation. Aeronautical, space, and military tourism are rapidly emerging as dynamic niches within the global tourism industry, offering unique experiences that blend science, history, heritage, and adventure. From the commercialization of space travel to visits to airbases and defense museums, these evolving sectors are capturing public imagination and opening fresh avenues for tourism research and practice. This mini track aims to explore how these domains intersect with tourism, reflecting on the economic, cultural, and ethical dimensions of experiences tied to air and space exploration and military infrastructure. The track will serve as a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, encouraging scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to critically examine the evolving role of aeronautical and military-related sites and technologies in shaping tourism offerings. Participants are invited to address how tourism can recontextualize military and aerospace legacies, contribute to public engagement with science and national history, and promote innovation-driven destination development. At the same time, this track will not shy away from questions of access, sustainability, risk management, and the potential for militarization or commodification of sensitive sites. Key themes include the transformation of decommissioned military zones into heritage attractions, the rise of spaceports as new tourism hubs, and the visitor experience in high-tech, high-security environments. This mini track encourages original contributions that investigate theoretical frameworks, empirical case studies, design methodologies, and policy perspectives related to aeronautical, space, and defense tourism. Submissions may focus on past, present, or speculative futures of tourism in these fields. By bringing together diverse viewpoints, the track aims to foster a holistic understanding of how tourism is adapting to and shaping developments at the frontier of general aviation and military. It seeks to highlight not only the opportunities for innovation and education but also the challenges of inclusivity, safety, and responsible storytelling in environments historically marked by exclusivity and strategic significance.

We are inviting submissions of abstracts for presentations on the following topics:

• The commercialization of space tourism: trends, markets, and experiences
• Suborbital and orbital flight tourism: training, risk, and regulation
• Military tourism: heritage, memory, and critical interpretations
• Converting military sites into cultural and tourism assets
• Ethical and environmental implications of military and space tourism
• The role of government and private sector in space and aeronautical tourism
• Visitor experience and interpretation at aerospace and military museums
• The geopolitics of space and its influence on tourism development
• Public perception, marketing, and media representation of space and military tourism

Gender and tourism: Representations, practices, and power relations
Mini Track Chair: Prof. Valerie Priscilla Goby, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

This mini-track invites scholarly contributions that examine how gender shapes, and is shaped by, tourism practices, policies, and representations. Tourism is not only a major global industry but also a powerful cultural system through which identities, spaces, and narratives are produced and consumed. Understanding how gender operates within this system offers important insights into the dynamics of inclusion, visibility, and power in tourism contexts. We welcome empirical and theoretical papers from diverse disciplinary perspectives that focus on how gender informs and is negotiated within tourism sites, marketing, labour, and experience. Submissions that investigate gendered tourism entrepreneurship, labour in tourism industries, destination branding, cultural heritage, travel narratives, gendered tourist experiences, and inclusive or gender-sensitive tourism policies are encouraged. By foregrounding gender as a key lens through which tourism can be understood, this session aims to stimulate dialogue that explores the social, cultural, and political dimensions of tourism. It offers a platform for work that contributes to more nuanced, inclusive, and contextually grounded understandings of tourism’s role in shaping identities and experiences in local and global settings.

• Gendered visual and discursive representations in tourism media and marketing
• Gender, employment, and entrepreneurship in the tourism sector
• Gender and national identity in tourism and heritage marketing
• Gender mainstreaming in tourism planning and policy
• Intersections of gender with ethnicity, class, religion, and nationality in tourism experiences
• Gender and sustainability in ecotourism



Important Dates