Proceedings of the Mediterranean tourism knowledge exchange and policy forum : Amidst Rapid Transformational Shift (ARTS) – Book of abstracts

Abstract

The Mediterranean region connects Southern Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East and is indeed a very specific and sensitive context, geographically, politically, economically, culturally and ecologically. It is a region that deserves more attention as context and location matter greatly for tourism. We need to better understand what goes on in this region: the complexity of the system, the interconnections and interdependencies, the trends, developments and global challenges that impact this sensitive region, and how all this affects people’s lives now and in the future. This academic conference focuses on tourism as an activity that is entirely dependent on the landscapes, the scenic beauty, the nature, the history, the cultures, the languages that cocreate such diverse experiences within destinations. As we increasingly recognise that we need to strengthen the social foundation that provides life’s essentials to people and the need to respect Earth’s limitations and boundaries, we need to rethink the way we manage resources and the way we behave. In parallel, there are market transformations taking place, driven by technology, consumer preferences, business ecosystems and global challenges. All this requires leadership and policy shifts that facilitate the transition that destinations require. Smart destinations use tourism as a catalyst for regenerative development, ensuring that value is cocreated sustainably and shared equitably among the different stakeholders. The Mediterranean Tourism Knowledge Exchange and Policy Conference within the 9th Mediterranean Tourism Forum framework acts as a platform to empower the exchange of knowledge and support policy and leadership. In this second edition of the conference, 110 researchers from 23 countries, spread across 5 continents, are coming together to present and discuss over 50 scholarly papers. Seven main themes emerged for discussion during the conference, namely: Sustainability, development policy and planning, business ecosystem, technology, gastronomy, inclusion and marketing. They reflect both the opportunities for growth, innovation, and collaboration, as well as the challenges related to environmental preservation, cultural heritage management, and socio-economic development that the Mediterranean region faces. We welcome Sandra Carvao, Director, Market Intelligence, Policies and Competitiveness at UNTourism and globally recognized scholars: Godfrey Baldacchino and Marie Avellino, University of Malta; Carlos Costa, University of Aveiro, Portugal; Eduardo Parra-López, Universidad de La Laguna, Spain; Valeria Minghetti, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Italy and Cleopatra Veloutsou, University of Glasgow, UK. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Andrew Agius Muscat for his exceptional leadership and for granting us the opportunity to organise this research conference within the framework of the Mediterranean Tourism Forum and Foundation. We also sincerely appreciate the invaluable organizational support provided by Tonio Cini, Mona Khalilieh, and Mattia Agius Muscat. We look forward to engaging in meaningful and impactful discussions that will drive positive outcomes and contribute to the sustainable growth and regenerative development of Mediterranean tourism.