The 11th Biennial Conference
of the International Tourism Studies Association
Celebrating 20 Years of ITSA
The International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA) is pleased to announce its 11th Biennial Conference, to be held in Ningbo, China, from 31 October to 3 November 2026. Marking ITSA’s 20th anniversary, this landmark conference brings together scholars, journal editors, urban planners, policymakers, and industry professionals to address a timely question: as artificial intelligence and digital technologies continue to enhance connectivity, prediction, and service efficiency, how can we sustain and enrich the value of real-world experiences — in cities, heritage sites, and cultural landscapes?
Over two decades, ITSA has developed an academic network spanning five continents and more than twenty countries and regions. Its Biennial Conferences have been hosted across China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, Spain, and Latvia, sustaining international exchange across tourism research, urban governance, and industry practice. The Association’s journal, the International Journal of Tourism Cities (WOS Q2, Scopus Q1), has become a leading academic platform for urban tourism research worldwide.
From Bytes to Sites
Digital technologies continue to expand our capacity to connect, predict, and personalize — yet the ultimate value of tourism lies in being present—in real places, authentic cultural settings, and meaningful human interactions. The conference aims to bridge this tension through rigorous scholarship and innovative practice, examining how AI and intelligent systems can empower — rather than replace — the lived experience of place.
Conference Chairs
University of Nottingham Ningbo China
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Senior Associate Editor, Tourism Review
Keynote & Featured Speakers
The conference brings together leading scholars, journal editors-in-chief and industry leaders from Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
Submission Tracks
The conference is organized around fifteen tracks convened by leading scholars from across China, Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia. Authors are invited to submit papers related to any of the following tracks.
📌 Papers addressing topics not listed above but relevant to the conference theme are also welcome. Please indicate your preferred track upon submission via EasyChair.
Programme at a Glance
A four-day programme combining methodological workshops, keynote addresses, fifteen parallel tracks, editor roundtables and post-conference field trips. Detailed session times and rooms will be confirmed in the Final Programme.
| 13:00–19:00 | Registration |
| 13:00–19:00 | Pre-Conference Workshops Four 90-minute methodology workshops delivered by editors of leading tourism journals. |
| 08:00–08:45 | Opening Ceremony Welcome addresses and address by the ITSA President. |
| 08:45–10:15 | Keynote Session I Four keynote addresses. |
| 10:15–10:25 | Coffee Break |
| 10:25–10:35 | Group Photograph |
| 10:35–12:35 | Roundtables 1 & 2 1 · Twenty Years of ITSA: A Retrospective | 2 · Chinese-Language Journal Editors’ Forum |
| 12:35–13:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30–15:30 | Parallel Sessions Fifteen thematic tracks running concurrently. |
| 15:30–15:45 | Coffee Break |
| 15:45–17:45 | Parallel Sessions Fifteen thematic tracks running concurrently. |
| 18:30–20:30 | ITSA 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner |
| 09:00–10:00 | Keynote Session II Keynote addresses by editors of SSCI-indexed journals. |
| 10:00–10:15 | Coffee Break |
| 10:15–12:15 | Roundtables 3 & 4 3 · Cultural–Tourism Space and Planning in the Age of AI | 4 · Artificial Intelligence and the Tourism Industry |
| 12:15–13:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30–14:30 | Parallel Sessions Fifteen thematic tracks running concurrently. |
| 14:30–14:45 | Coffee Break |
| 14:45–16:45 | Pitch & Polish — Meet the Editors Conducted in English. Three-minute research pitches with live feedback from leading journal editors. |
| 17:00–18:00 | Closing Ceremony & Awards |
| 08:30–17:00 | Post-Conference Field Trips Three optional routes. Separate registration required; capacity limited to 60 participants per route. |
Submission Type
The conference welcomes submissions designed to accommodate different stages and styles of scholarship and practice.
6,000–8,000 words (including references)
- ReviewReviewed by Track Chairs and the Scientific Committee
- RecognitionEligible for the ITSA Best Paper Award. Selected papers will be invited to participate in the “Pitch & Polish: Meet the Editors” session.
1,000–1,500 words (including references)
- ReviewReviewed by Track Chairs and the Scientific Committee
- RecognitionEligible for the ITSA Best Paper Award. Selected papers will be invited to participate in the “Pitch & Polish: Meet the Editors” session.
How to Submit
Prepare Your Submission
Full Paper (6,000–8,000 words) or Extended Abstract (1,000–1,500 words), including references. References must follow APA 7th Edition.
Submit on EasyChair
All submissions are made through the EasyChair system. Select your preferred Track (1–15), and indicate whether you wish to participate in the Pitch & Polish: Meet the Editors session.
Go to EasyChair →Await Notification
Notification of acceptance will be sent by 15 August 2026. Accepted authors should register by 15 September 2026 to secure early-bird rates.
- Length: Full Paper of 6,000–8,000 words, or Extended Abstract of 1,000–1,500 words, in each case including references.
- References: APA 7th Edition formatting throughout.
- Track: Please select your preferred Track (1–15) at the point of submission.
- Working language: The official conference language is English. Submissions are also welcome in Chinese.
- Originality: Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under review at any other conference or journal.
- Registration: At least one author of each accepted submission must register for and attend the conference.
Partner Journals
All accepted papers will be included in the ITSA 2026 Conference Proceedings (with ISBN). Outstanding papers recommended by the Scientific Committee will be considered for fast-track review by the following partner journals, subject to the authors’ permission.
Key Dates
Registration Fees
| Category | Early Bird by 15 Sep 2026 |
Regular after 15 Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| ITSA Member | USD 230 | USD 280 |
| Non-Member | USD 280 | USD 340 |
| Full-Time Student * | USD 120 | USD 150 |
| Guest Pass | USD 90 | USD 120 |
| Pre-Conference Workshop | USD 120 | USD 120 |
| Post-Conference Tour | USD 90 | USD 90 |
Registration includes access to all conference sessions, lunches, coffee breaks,
and the Welcome Dinner. Accommodation and travel are not included.
* Student registration requires proof of current full-time enrolment at an accredited institution.