May 13, 2026 - May 15, 2026

TTRA Europe 2026 - Call For Papers

2026 TTRA Europe Annual Chapter Conference

Dates: May 13-15, 2026
Location: Portorož, Slovenia

Call For Papers

Conference Themes

The 2026 TTRA Europe Conference invites contributions addressing key challenges and opportunities facing tourism in Europe and beyond. This year’s themes draw on pressing academic debates, urgent industry challenges, evolving European policy frameworks, and a strong emphasis on empirically supported decision-making grounded in rigorous scientific approaches.

  1. Balancing Growth & Resilience: Tourism Policy, Community Well-Being, and Environmental Sustainability by 2050

This theme emphasizes the challenge of aligning tourism growth with community well-being and environmental sustainability. It builds on academic debates on resilience and carrying capacity, addresses industry concerns around overtourism, resident pushback, housing pressures, and connects to EU policy directions on sustainable tourism, visitor management, and resilience. Contributions are expected to demonstrate how evidence-based methodologies (e.g., longitudinal studies, mixed methods, or modelling approaches) can inform better decision-making.

  1. Smart, Inclusive & Digital: Data Spaces, AI, and Fair Innovation for Europe’s Tourism Ecosystems

This theme focuses on digital transformation in tourism, driven by EU priorities such as the European Tourism Data Space and the AI Act. Academically, it links to discussions on responsible AI, transparency, and empowerment. For the industry, it highlights opportunities and risks in adopting AI and big data, while ensuring inclusivity and accessibility. We particularly welcome empirical studies that test and validate digital tools, data governance models, and AI applications in tourism contexts to support robust and fair decision-making.

  1. Regulating Tourism & Restoring Balance: Housing, Overtourism, and Social Impacts Across European Destinations

This theme addresses the pressing issue of social sustainability in tourism. It engages with academic work on governance of platform economies, urban tourism, and community impacts. Industry actors face challenges from regulations on short-term rentals, affordability crises, and protests against overtourism. EU policy initiatives on data sharing and balanced tourism provide an important framework. Submissions should show how rigorous scientific evidence (e.g., econometric analysis, comparative policy evaluation, experimental designs) can inform policy responses and practical interventions.

  1. Aligning Research, Practice, and EU Policy for a Future-Ready Visitor Economy

This topic highlights the conference’s integrative mission: connecting academic research with industry practice and aligning both with EU tourism policies. It signals to participants that the event is a platform for dialogue between evidence-based insights, operational innovation, and policy implementation. Submissions under this theme should demonstrate how research-driven insights translate into empirically validated strategies that support decision-making in both policy and practice.

  1. “Shaping Research Careers: Beyond Counting, Towards Quality and Impact” (Doctoral Seminar Theme)

The doctoral seminar will provide an interactive platform for early-stage researchers to reflect on how to build meaningful and sustainable academic careers in tourism research. In an era where metrics and quantification dominate academic evaluation, there is an urgent need to shift the focus from “how much” to “how well.” This seminar will encourage dialogue on:

  • How to prioritize research quality, originality, and contribution over sheer publication numbers.
  • Strategies for publishing in reputable journals that value theoretical innovation, methodological rigor, and societal impact.
  • Navigating the evolving landscape of open science, peer review, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • Building international research networks and career pathways that extend beyond traditional performance indicators.
  • Developing resilience among a new generation of scholars balancing academic integrity, career pressures, and impact expectations.

The seminar will combine presentations by established scholars with interactive sessions, where doctoral students present their work-in-progress and receive constructive feedback focused not only on content but also on strategic career development.

Submission Categories

  • Extended abstract: a shorter, structured submission presenting research in progress or concise studies to foster feedback and discussion (includes case studies).
  • Applied (Industry) papers: sector-specific papers highlighting managerial implications, practical applications, and industry perspectives.
  • Student papers: submissions from master’s and doctoral students, including theses and research work in progress.
  • Posters: concise visual presentations of research-in-progress, conceptual frameworks, or applied projects. Authors should submit an extended abstract outlining objective, methods, preliminary findings, and expected contributions. Accepted posters will be displayed during a dedicated poster session, with authors present for discussion and feedback.

Submission Guidelines

  • Extended Abstracts:
    • 2000–3000 words for academics and doctoral students
    • 1500–2000 words for practitioners. 
    • Submissions should be structured with: Title, Abstract, Keywords (max. 5), Introduction, Literature Review, Method, Results, and Conclusion. Practitioners should add a section on Relevance to Industry. Case studies should be structured to highlight the context, key challenges, methods applied, outcomes, and lessons learned. Should demonstrate clear implications for destination, industry, or policy practice.
  • Applied/Industry Papers (1500–2000 words). Structured with Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Method/Approach, Results/Findings, Managerial/Practical Implications, and Conclusion. Should emphasize actionable insights for practitioners and decision-makers.
  • Student Papers (2000–3000 words). Open to master’s theses and doctoral work-in-progress. Should follow the extended abstract structure (Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Literature Review, Method, Results, Conclusion), with flexibility for projects at earlier stages.
  • Posters. Outlining the project’s objectives, methods, preliminary findings, and expected contributions. Accepted posters will be displayed during a dedicated session, with authors present to discuss their work and receive feedback.

Formatting: All submissions (except Posters) should use Times New Roman 12 pt, 1.15 line spacing, tables and figures placed at the end of the document, and APA (7th edition) referencing style. Poster submissions should be prepared in A0 size (841 mm × 1189 mm, portrait orientation) and structured to include a clear title, author(s) and affiliation(s), followed by sections such as introduction, methods, results, conclusions, and references. Text should be easily readable from a distance, with a minimum font size of 24 pt for body text and at least 48 pt for titles. Authors are encouraged to use high-quality images, tables, and figures to enhance clarity and ensure graphics can be read from 1–2 meters away. Color schemes should provide sufficient contrast to maximize readability, avoiding overly bright or dark backgrounds. If references are included, they must follow APA (7th edition) style. Posters should be submitted electronically as a PDF file (A0 portrait format) by the submission deadline.

Submission link: https://easychair.org/conferences?conf=ttra26

Publication: Only submissions presented at the conference will be considered for inclusion in the conference proceedings and for invitation to submit to Academica Turistica – Tourism and Innovation Journal (AT-TIJ).

Key Dates :

  • Submission Opens: November 15, 2025
  • Submission Deadline: December 15, 2025
  • Notification of Acceptance: February 15, 2026
  • Early-bird Registration Deadline: March 1, 2026
  • Conference Dates: May 13th – 15th 2026

Registration Fees (indicative):

  • PhD students: €220 (includes free TTRA membership)
  • TTRA Members: €320 early / €440 regular
  • Non-Members: €520 early / €640 regular

Conference Highlights:

  • Doctoral Seminar: a platform for PhD students to present and discuss their work with peers and senior scholars, facilitated by Mike Peters
  • Keynote Speakers: TBA (leading voices from academia, industry, and EU institutions)
  • Networking Events: including a Gala Dinner and cultural excursions to the enchanting Venetian town of Piran

Organising Committee:

  • Conference Chairs: Miha Bratec & Emil Juvan
  • Doctoral Seminar Chair: Mike Peters
  • Hosted by: University of Primorska / Faculty of tourism studies Turistica

Logistics & Travel Information:

Portorož is easily accessible by several modes of transport:

  • Airports:
    • Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU) – approx. 1h 30min by car/shuttle.
    • Trieste Airport (TRS), Italy – approx. 50min by car/shuttle.
    • Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), Italy – approx. 2h by car/shuttle.
    • Zagreb Airport (ZAG), Croatia – approx. 3h by car.
  • Train: The nearest major train stations are Trieste Centrale (Italy) and Koper (Slovenia). Regular buses and shuttles connect these hubs with Portorož.
  • Bus & Shuttle Services: Direct buses run from Ljubljana, Trieste, and other regional centres to Portorož. Shuttle transfers from nearby airports can be arranged individually. We recommend GoOpti (www.goopti.com), a reliable and affordable shuttle service connecting all major regional airports (Ljubljana, Trieste, Venice, Zagreb) directly to Portorož.
  • By Car: Portorož is connected by motorway to Ljubljana (A1/E61) and to Italy (Trieste) via Škofije/Koper border crossing. Parking is available at the conference venue and nearby hotels.

We will provide more detailed information on recommended shuttle services and local transport options closer to the conference dates.

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