Today, tourism is an important component of development, not only in economic terms but also for knowledge and human welfare. Tourism today is an activity accessible to a growing number of people. The phenomenon has many more advantages than disadvantages. New forms of economic development and increasing wealth of human societies depend on tourism. Our knowledge of the world now includes a strong component due to tourism. Human welfare has physiological and psychological elements, which tourism promotes, both because of the enjoyment of knowing new territories and increasing contacts with near or far away societies and cultures. The tourism industry has nevertheless given rise to some serious concerns, including social costs and ecological impacts. Many ancient local cultures have practically lost their identity. Their societies have orientated their economy only to this industry. Both the natural and cultural – rural or urban – landscapes have also paid a high price for certain forms of tourism. These problems will persist if the economic benefit is the only target, leading to economic gains that eventually become ruinous. It is also important to consider that visitors nowadays are increasingly demanding in cultural and environmental terms.

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at the conference. Papers on other topics related to the objectives of the meeting are also welcome.

• Tourism strategies
• Environmental issues
• Climate change
• Safety and security
• Tourism as a tool of development
• Heritage tourism
• Marine and coastal areas tourism
• Sport tourism
• Tourism impact
• Tourism and protected areas
• Ecotourism
• Rural tourism
• Tourism and technology
• Industrial tourism
• Transport and tourism
• Education and tourism
• Destination management
• eTourism
• Simulation models
• Social and physical infrastructure
• Gastronomic tourism
• The role of the landscape on tourism
• Dark tourism
• Project image
• Sustainability assessments
• Cultural tourism
• Medical and health tourism
• Tourism and nature
• The role of local communities
• Case studies