ABOUT
The International Tourism Congress (ITC) is the annual scientific meeting of the Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation (CiTUR).
CiTUR is a research and development (R&D) centre, composed by over 200 researchers from 17 portuguese institutions (polytechnics and universities) organized in 9 portuguese hubs and 2 international affiliated hubs, in Brasil and Ecuador.
CiTUR R&D focuses on fostering multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary applied research, and on stimulating the production and sharing of scientific knowledge in hospitality and tourism.
The 17th edition of ITC will take place from 26th to 28th November 2025, hosted by the School of Hospitality and Tourism of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto, in Vila do Conde, Portugal.
Download the ITC’25 poster here.
Sustainability of Tourism Destinations
Theoretical Background for the International Tourism Congress 2025
The main theme of the congress is Sustainability of Tourism Destinations making ITC’25 an opportunity for academics, master and doctoral students to present and discuss national and international experiences on sustainability and development of tourism destinations.
ITC’25 is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and with 2030 UN’s Agenda, since it is focused on discussing the 17 Goals through the lens of tourism, hospitality and restaurant activities and the role of these services to accomplish the SDGs. Moreover, SDGs are based on the Five Ps of sustainable development: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships, which envisage all the essential issues concerning tourism, hospitality and restaurant services.
Tourists prioritise destinations and activities focused on environmental sustainability and local community investment, therefore discussing sustainability in all its dimensions (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships) and the image of tourism destinations will allow the discussion of the main topics of current tourism trends.
The congress will bring together researchers in the different fields of sustainability in tourism, hospitality and catering, and invites all public administration members, businesses leaders, and professionals who want to discuss and share their experiences about the most recent trends in the field.
Therefore, the programme aims to be broad and inclusive, covering various areas of tourism and hospitality research, including contribution from multiple disciplines, such as economics, management, sociology, geography, cultural studies, environmental science, and technology, reflecting the complex and interdisciplinary nature of this field.
TOPICS
Circular economy
Sustainability management
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Revenue Management
Marketing for tourism, hotels and restaurants
Digital marketing and social media
Human resources management
Leadership for sustainability
New technologies in innovative practices
Sustainability Practices in tourism, hotels and restaurants
Curricular Development in Tourism and Hospitality
Pedagogical strategies and practices in Tourism and Hospitality
Competencies development in Tourism and Hospitality
Education and sustainability in Tourism and Hospitality
Challenges in Tourism and Hospitality Education
Artificial Intelligence in tourism, hotels and restaurants
Innovation in tourism, hotels, and restaurants
Automation and robotics
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
Gamification in Tourism
Digital Transformation Processes
Digital Twins in Tourism
Technologies in Tourism and Hospitality Education
AI in Touristic Experiences
Destination Management
Smart Destinations
Tourism Sustainability
Smart Tourism
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism
Tourism Observatories
Governance and Policies for Tourism Tourism
Wine Tourism
Olive Tourism
Gastronomy Tourism
Events Tourism
Nature and Outdoor Tourism
Health Tourism
Rural Tourism
Religious Tourism
Nautical Tourism
LGBTQ Tourism
Dark Tourism
Astro Tourism
Literary Tourism
Film-induced Tourism
Heritage and Culture in Tourism
Cultural tourism
Creative Tourism
Neurotourism
Neuromarketing in Tourism
Qualitative and Mixed-Methods in Neurotourism
Neuroaesthetics and Sensory Design in Tourism
Emotion, Attention and Predictive Processing in Digital Tourism
Neuroscience, Wearable Technologies and Destination Simulation
Neuroethics and Responsible Innovation in Tourism Technologies
CALL FOR PAPERS
Call for Papers
The ITC’25 accepts extended abstract submission and full paper submission.
The main language of the conference is English, but it is also accepted extended abstracts in Portuguese and in Spanish.
Full papers are only accepted in English.
The conference will accept onsite and online participation.
Submitted full papers and extended abstracts will be subject to a double-blind review process.
All accepted extended abstracts will be published in a Book of Abstracts of the conference with ISBN.
Additional information can be received by email to: itc25@esht.ipp.pt
SUBMISSIONS
Submission Dates
Full paper and extended abstract submission deadline: 30th June 2025Full paper and extended abstract submission deadline extended: 15th July 2025- Full paper and extended abstract submission deadline extended: 12th September 2025
- Notification of acceptance to the authors: 30th September 2025
- Final submission of paper and extended abstract: 10th October 2025
Submission Process
All the submissions must use the conference submission templates.
Please, download the template document here:
In the submission phase, the names of the authors should be removed from the manuscript uploaded in the platform.
All the submissions will be made using the Microsoft CMT platform: https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/ITC2025
The Microsoft CMT service was used for managing the peer-reviewing process for this conference. This service was provided for free by Microsoft and they bore all expenses, including costs for Azure cloud services as well as for software development and support.
PUBLICATIONS
Publication Opportunities
A BOOK OF ABSTRACTS (with ISBN) will be published with all Abstracts presented in the conference.
Full papers approved to be presented in the conference will have the opportunity to be published in the indexed journals shown below, subject to their reviewers’ decision.
Authors will have the opportunity to submit their papers to the supporting journals, with special conditions, following the guidelines and specific standards of each journal.
Supporting Journals
European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation (EJTHR)
The EJTHR is an international journal publishing original research papers, developed by CiTUR - Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation.
Tourism and Hospitality
Tourism and Hospitality is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on all aspects of tourism and hospitality, published quarterly online by MDPI.
Tourism Review
Tourism Review aims to advance the understanding of tourism and to enhance the impact and relevance of tourism research to global society at large.
Tourism and Hospitality Management
Tourism and Hospitality Management is an international, multidisciplinary, open access journal aiming to promote and enhance research in all fields of tourism and hospitality industry.
AWARDS
Best Speaker Award
- All communications presented at the congress will be evaluated and considered for the award for best speaker
- Two awards will be given for best spearker
Best Paper Award
- All full papers presented at the congress will be evaluated and considered for the award for best paper
- One awards will be given for best paper
These awards are Sponsered by: Tourism and Hospitality, an Open Access Journal by MDPI
REGISTRATION
| Packages | Until 15th October 25 | Between 16th and 31th October 25 |
|---|---|---|
| Authors with communication and full paper | 350 € | 425 € |
| Authors with communication and extended abstract | 220 € | 285 € |
| Members with communication and full paper (a) | 250 € | 300 € |
| Members with communication and extended abstract (a) | 150 € | 200 € |
| Students with communication (b) | 40 € | 60 € |
| Participants without presentation | 80 € | 100 € |
| Accompanying person | 80 € | 100 € |
(a) CiTUR members and teachers/researchers from ESHT.
(b) Only students from HEI members of CiTUR. Does not include meals, coffee breaks, gala dinner, conference social activity.
Registration fees include all meals, coffee breaks, gala dinner and social activities of the conference, except those mentioned in (b).
Each presentation will imply a registration fee. Each author can register up to two presentations (full paper, extended abstract or communication). Any other formats will need put forward to the consideration of the Organisation Committee.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
lis Tussyadiah
Iis Tussyadiah is Professor of Intelligent Systems in Service, Dean of Surrey Business School, and Fellow of the Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI at University of Surrey. Iis is an advocate of utilising technology to forge new pathways to a better future. She conducts research on digital transformation in the services sector, specifically the applications and implications of AI. Her major work has shaped national and international policy, including citations in the European Parliament (the role of AI in the European Green Deal), UK Government (online choice architecture), and United Nations climate mitigation frameworks. She has led or contributed to major international collaborations with academic and policy stakeholders across USA, Australia, China, Finland, and the EU. She serves on the Advisory Group for the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI), a key global benchmarking tool used by national tourism organisations to inform strategic planning, policy reform, and sustainability initiatives.
Diego Toubes
Toubes, D. R. holds a PhD in Economic and Business Sciences. He is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Administration and Tourism of Ourense, at the University of Vigo (Spain). He is a member of the Emitur research group at the University of Vigo. His research interests include tourism risk management and sustainable tourism. He has published academic papers and collaborations in the fields of organizational resilience, destination risk management, and crisis communication.
Zélia Breda
Zélia Breda is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT) at the University of Aveiro, where she also serves as Vice-Director of the Doctoral Programme in Tourism. She is a senior member of the University of Aveiro’s research unit Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP) and a senior consultant at Idtour, a tourism R&D spin off company. She serves on the editorial, scientific, and review boards of several international, peer reviewed journals, and on the organising and scientific committees of international tourism conferences. She has authored numerous publications and conference papers and has contributed to multiple tourism research projects, both as a team member and as a consultant.
Programme
Day 26.November.25
| 09:00 – 10:00 | Registration and reception of participants |
| 10:00 – 10:30 | Opening Session |
| 10:30 – 11:30 | Keynote Speaker Professor lis Tussyadiah, Surrey Business School, University of Surrey |
| 11:30 – 11:45 | Coffee Break |
| 11:45 – 12:45 | Parallel Sessions |
| 12:45 – 14:15 | Lunch |
| 14:15 - 16:00 | Parallel Sessions |
| 16:00 – 16:15 | Coffee Break |
| 16:15 - 18:00 | Parallel Sessions |
Day 27.November.25
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Registration and reception of participants |
| 09:30 – 11:30 | Parallel Sessions |
| 11:30 – 11:45 | Coffee Break |
| 11:45 – 12:45 | Keynote Speaker Professor Diego Toubes, University of Vigo |
| 12:45 – 14:15 | Lunch |
| 14:15 - 16:15 | Parallel Sessions |
| 16:15 – 16:30 | Coffee Break |
| 16:30 - 17:30 | Keynote Speaker Professor Zélia Breda, Universidade de Aveiro |
| 17:30 - 18:00 | Closing Session |
| 20:00 | Gala Dinner at “The Lince Santa Clara Hotel” |
Day 28.November.25
| 10:00 – 11:30 | Cultural and Social Activity in Vila do Conde |
| 11:30 – 11:45 | Coffee Break |
| 11:45 – 13:00 | Cultural and Social Activity in Póvoa de Varzim |
Powerpoint presentation model for download: modeloITC_02.pptx
COMMITTEES
Chairs
Cândida Silva – School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO, Portugal
Mónica Oliveira – School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO, Portugal
Organisation Committee
Organisation Committee
| Ana Maria Ferreira | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
| António Melo | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
| Eduardo Albuquerque | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
| Joel Fernandes | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
| José António Silva | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
| Mónica Oliveira | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
| Susana Silva | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
Programme Committee
Programme Committee
| Bebiana Monteiro | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
| Cândida Silva | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
| Cristina Mouta | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
| Daniel Azevedo | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
| Luís Correia | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
| Fernanda Ferreira | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
| Teresa Pataco | School of Hospitality and Tourism, P.PORTO | Portugal |
Scientific Committee
Scientific Committe
| Adrian Lubowiecki-Vikuk | SGH Warsaw School of Economics | Poland |
| Adriano Azevedo Costa | Polytechnic Institute of Guarda | Portugal |
| Alexandra Correia | Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão | Portugal |
| Alexandra Rodrigues Gonçalves | University of Algarve | Portugal |
| Alina Zajadacz | Adam Mickiewicz University | Poland |
| Anabela Figueiredo Machado Monteiro | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Ana Clemente Elias | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Ana Elisa Carreta de Sousa | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Ana Claudia Machado Padilha | University of Passo Fundo | Brazil |
| Ana Lucas | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Ana Luísa Pires | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Ana Maria Moutinho Ferreira | School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic University of Porto | Portugal |
| Ana Paula Oliveira | Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies | Portugal |
| Ana Sofia Viana | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| António Melo | School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic University of Porto | Portugal |
| António Sérgio Araújo de Almeida | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Bebiana Monteiro | School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic University of Porto | Portugal |
| Borbála Gondos | Edutus University | Hungary |
| Brent McKenzie | Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, University of Guelph | Canada |
| Bruno Barbosa Sousa | Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (IPCA) | Portugal |
| Bruno Sousa | University of Madeira | Portugal |
| Cândida Silva | School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic University of Porto | Portugal |
| Carimo Rassal | School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism, University of the Algarve | Portugal |
| Carlos Afonso | School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism, University of the Algarve | Portugal |
| Carlos Fernandes | Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão | Portugal |
| Celeste Eusébio | University of Aveiro | Portugal |
| Célia Maria Conceição Salmim Rafael | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Celiwe Menze | Cape Town Hotel School, Cape Peninsula University of Technology | South Africa |
| Conceição Ilda da Silva Gomes | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Cristina Mouta | School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic University of Porto | Portugal |
| Cristina Sousa | ISCTE Ciências Sociais e Humanas | Portugal |
| Daniel Azevedo | School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic University of Porto | Portugal |
| Diego Rodríguez Toubes Muñiz | Business Administration and Tourism School, University of Vigo | Spain |
| Eduardo Albuquerque | School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic University of Porto | Portugal |
| Eduardo Marques | University of Madeira | Portugal |
| Elenica Pjero | University 'Ismail Qemali' Vlore | Albania |
| Elsa Esteves | Instituto Politécnico de Bragança | Portugal |
| Eunice Lopes | Polytechnic University of Tomar | Portugal |
| Erlaine Binotto | Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - UFGD | Brazil |
| Fernanda Ferreira | School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic University of Porto | Portugal |
| Fernanda Oliveira | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Fernando Perna | School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism, University of the Algarve | Portugal |
| Filipa Perdigão Ribeiro | School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism, University of the Algarve | Portugal |
| Flávio Ferreira | School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic University of Porto | Portugal |
| George Ramos | Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco | Portugal |
| Giancarlo Cotello | Politecnico di Torino | Italy |
| Giovana Goretti Feijó de Almeida | CiTUR-Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Gonçalo Fernandes Poeta | Polytechnic Institute of Guarda | Portugal |
| Hélder Carrasqueira | School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism, University of the Algarve | Portugal |
| Hennie Fisher | Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria | South Africa |
| Isilda Leitão | Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies | Portugal |
| Joana Fernandes | Instituto Politécnico de Bragança | Portugal |
| Joana Quintela | Portucalense University | Portugal |
| João Caldeira Heitor | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| João Paulo Jorge | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| João Reis | Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies | Portugal |
| Jorge Umbelino | Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies | Portugal |
| José Alexandre dos Santos Vaz Martins | Polytechnic Institute of Guarda | Portugal |
| José Pablo Abeal Vázquez | University of A Coruña | Spain |
| Katarzyna Leśniewska-Napierała | University of Lodz | Poland |
| Kate Torkington | School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism, University of the Algarve | Portugal |
| Laia Encinar Prat | Barcelona School of Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy | Spain |
| Laura Vala Chagas | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Liana-Elena Anica-Popa | Bucharest University of Economic Studies | Romania |
| Lucília Cardoso | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Luís Mota | European University of Lisbon | Portugal |
| Luís Manuel Mendes Correia | School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic University of Porto | Portugal |
| Luís Lima Santos | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Luísa Lopes | Instituto Politécnico de Bragança | Portugal |
| Lukasz Quirini-Poplawski | Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Polish Academy of Sciences | Poland |
| Manuel Salgado | Polytechnic Institute of Guarda | Portugal |
| Manuela Guerra | Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies | Portugal |
| Márcia Duarte | Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (IPCA) | Portugal |
| Marko Koščak | Maribor University | Slovenia |
| Márcio Martins | Instituto Politécnico de Bragança | Portugal |
| Maria Carmen López | Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão | Portugal |
| Maria de Lurdes Calisto | Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies | Portugal |
| Maria Natália Perez Santos | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Maria Sofia Fernandes | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Mário Silva | Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies | Portugal |
| Mário Passos Ascenção | Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences | Finland |
| Marisol Correia | School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism, University of the Algarve | Portugal |
| Mara Franco | University of Madeira | Portugal |
| Margarete Luisa Arbugeri | ISMAT - Lusófona | Portugal |
| Minna Tunkkari-Eskelinen | Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences | Finland |
| Michail Kalogiannakis | University of Thessaly | Greece |
| Miguel Belo | Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies | Portugal |
| Nuno Abranja | Instituto Superior de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo | Portugal |
| Nuno Almeida | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Nuno Gustavo | Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies | Portugal |
| Paulo Almeida | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Pedro Carvalho | Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão | Portugal |
| Raquel Huete | University of Alicante | Spain |
| Rita Baleiro | School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism, University of the Algarve | Portugal |
| Rita Peres | Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies | Portugal |
| Rositsa Röntynen | Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences | Finland |
| Rossana Santos | University of Madeira | Portugal |
| Salete Esteves | Instituto Politécnico de Bragança | Portugal |
| Sónia Isabel Vieira Mortágua Pais de Aquino | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Sofia Eurico | Polytechnic University of Leiria | Portugal |
| Susana Filipa Gonçalves | Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies | Portugal |
| Susana Silva | School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic University of Porto | Portugal |
| Susana Teles | University of Madeira | Portugal |
| Teemu Patala | Airport College International | Finland |
| Teodora Kiryakova-Dineva | South-West University "Neofit Rilski" | Bulgaria |
| Teresa Gomes da Costa | Escola Superior de Ciências Empresariais, Politécnico de Setúbal | Portugal |
| Teresa Felgueira | Polytechnic Institute of Guarda | Portugal |
| Tshinakaho Nyathela-Sunday | Cape Town Hotel School, Cape Peninsula University of Technology | South Africa |
| Victor Figueira | Polytechnic Institute of Beja | Portugal |
| Vitor Ambrósio | Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies | Portugal |
| Vitor Roque | Polytechnic Institute of Guarda | Portugal |
| Vörös Mihály László | Edutus University | Hungary |
| Youssef El Archi | Higher International Institute of Tourism in Tangier | Morocco |
Sponsors
Address
Rua D. Sancho I, n.º 981 4480-876 Vila do CondePortugal
Phone number
T. +351 252 291 700
email
itc25@esht.ipp.pt
How to get here
Transports
Nearest international airport Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, in Porto city
Route from the Airport to Vila do Conde by metro, changing in Verdes station to the Red line (B), direction Póvoa de Varzim. Vila do Conde stations are: Santa Clara stop is the nearest to hotels, and Vila do Conde is the nearest to Campus 2.
Metro ticket is around 2€ More information: https://en.metrodoporto.pt
You can also use Taxi, Bolt or Uber. Bolt or Uber will cost between 15-20€.
Lisbon Airport
Lisbon International Airport Humberto Delgado
Alameda das Comunidades Portuguesas, 1700-111 Lisboa
From Lisbon Airport, you can take the metro (red line) to Oriente Station.
More information about the metro https://www.metrolisboa.pt/
In the Oriente Station, you can take the train to Porto City. The ticket will cost around 25-45€ and will take 2-3hs. You should get off at Campanhã Station. In Campanhã Station you can take the metro to Vila do Conde.
More information about trains: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times
ACCOMMODATION
B&B Hotels
Rua 5 de Outubro 1024
4480–700 Vila do Conde
Portugal
+351 252 021 996
hotel.viladoconde@hotelbb.com
Single Room: €60 (per night) with breakfast included Double Room: €70 (per night) with breakfast included
Tourist Tax: €1.00 per person, per night, payable upon check-in.
Villa C
Av. Mouzinho de Albuquerque, s/n
Estrada Nacional 13
4480-151 Vila do Conde
Portugal
+351 252 240 420
info@villacboutiquehotel.com
Bed & Breakfast Rates:
Single Room: €113.00 per night (1 person) Double/Superior Twin Room: €113.00 per night (2 people)
Tourist Tax: €1.00 per person, per night, payable upon check-in.
Hotel Santana
Monte Santana
Azurara
4480-188 Vila do Conde
Portugal
+351252640460
geral@santanahotel.pt
Promotional Code: ITC2025
Discount: 15% off all available rates and room types.
Tourist Tax: €1.00 per person, per night, payable upon check-in.
Hotel Lince
Largo Dom Afonso Sanches,
4480-754 Vila do Conde
Portugal
+351 252 035 300
santaclara@thelincehotels.com
Double or Single Room: €220 (per night) with breakfast included
Tourist Tax: €1.00 per person, per night, payable upon check-in.