About the Conference

The International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA) is pleased to announce its 11th Biennial Conference, to be held at Peking University, Beijing, China, from October 31 to November 3, 2026.

Founded in 2006 in Beijing, ITSA returns to its birthplace to celebrate its 20th anniversary. This landmark conference brings together international scholars, journal editors, urban planners, policymakers, and industry practitioners to address a central question of our time: as artificial intelligence and digital technologies deepen connectivity, prediction, and service efficiency, how do we preserve and enhance the irreplaceable value of real-world encounter — in cities, heritage sites, and living cultural landscapes?

The conference invites interdisciplinary contributions at the intersection of AI-driven transformation and place-based experience, advancing both theoretical frameworks and practical solutions for tourism, hospitality, and spatial governance in the age of intelligent systems.

Distinguished keynote speakers from leading international institutions and journal editorships will be announced in the Second Circular.

Conference Theme

Connected by Byte, Encountered by Site
AI-Driven Transformation, Place-Based Experience, and the Future of Tourism

Digital technologies continuously enhance our capacity to connect, predict, and personalize — yet the ultimate value of tourism is realized through embodied presence in real spaces, authentic cultural encounters, and meaningful human interaction. The conference seeks to bridge this fundamental tension through rigorous scholarship and innovative practice, exploring how AI and intelligent systems can empower rather than replace the lived experience of place.

Conference Tracks

The conference is organized around 12 tracks within three thematic matrices. Authors are invited to submit papers aligned with any of the following:

Matrix I — Bytes: Digital Technologies & Tourism Systems

Track 1	Generative AI and Intelligent Tourism Systems
Track 2	Platform Economies, Data Governance and Digital Markets
Track 3	Tourism Mobilities and Spatio-temporal Analytics

Matrix II — Scenes: Spatial Planning & Scene Governance

Track 4	Territorial Spatial Planning and Tourism Futures
Track 5	Emerging Tourism Scenes and Experience Landscapes
Track 6	Heritage Placemaking and Digital Heritage Interpretation
Track 7	Ecological Resilience and Digital Conservation

Matrix III — Encounters: Experience Innovation & Human Futures

Track 8	XR, Metaverse and Immersive Tourism Experiences
Track 9	Creative Tourism and Cultural Innovation
Track 10	Embodied Tourism Experience and Digital Leisure
Track 11	Sports, Rural and Wellness Tourism
Track 12	Cross-cultural Encounters and AI Ethics in Tourism

Papers addressing topics not listed above but relevant to the conference theme are also welcome. Please indicate your preferred track upon submission.

Submission Guidelines

The conference welcomes three categories of submissions:

Type A: Full Research Papers

• Abstract: 300–500 words, submitted by the abstract deadline. Must include research objectives, methodology, key findings, and implications
• Full Paper: 6,000–8,000 words (including references), submitted upon acceptance of the abstract
• Eligibility: Faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, doctoral candidates, and research professionals
• Review: Abstracts are reviewed by Track Co-chairs; full papers undergo double-blind peer review by the Scientific Committee
• Recognition: Eligible for the ITSA Best Paper Award; selected papers will be recommended to partner journals
• Requirements: Full papers must include a clearly articulated research question, theoretical or conceptual framework, methodology, findings, and implications

Type B: Extended Abstracts / Case Studies

• Length: 1,000–1,500 words
• Eligibility: Planners, industry executives, policymakers, and researchers presenting applied work
• Review: Editorial review by Track Co-chairs
• Recognition: Poster presentation at the conference; included in the Conference Proceedings
• Requirements: Should describe a planning/design project, policy innovation, technology application, or industry case with clear practical contributions

Type C: The Alastair Morrison Memorial Young Scholar Award

In memory of Professor Alastair M. Morrison (1948–2025), co-founder and Past President of ITSA, Co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Tourism Cities, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Purdue University, and Research Professor at the University of Greenwich. Professor Morrison dedicated his career to bridging tourism scholarship between East and West, mentoring generations of young scholars worldwide. This award honors his enduring legacy and his belief in nurturing the next generation of tourism researchers.

• Length: Maximum 2 pages (A4), including a brief research proposal or innovative concept
• Eligibility: Master’s students and advanced undergraduates enrolled at accredited institutions worldwide
• Review: Reviewed by the Scientific Committee
• Recognition: Finalists will present in a dedicated plenary pitching session. The winner of the Alastair Morrison Memorial Award will receive a certificate, a cash prize, and complimentary ITSA membership
• Requirements: A concise research proposal including research motivation, proposed approach, and expected contributions. Submissions should demonstrate originality, scholarly potential, and relevance to the conference theme

Formatting and Language

• The official conference language is English. Chinese-language submissions are accepted for Type B and Type C only.
• All submissions should follow APA 7th edition formatting for references.
• Submissions must be original, unpublished work and should not be under review elsewhere at the time of submission.
• Authors must remove all identifying information from the manuscript for Type A submissions (double-blind review).
• At least one author of each accepted submission must register for and attend the conference.

Submission Platform

All submissions should be made through EasyChair:

https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=itsa2026

When submitting, please select your preferred track (Track 1–12) and submission type (A, B, or C).

Publication Opportunities

All accepted papers will be included in the ITSA 2026 Conference Proceedings. Outstanding papers will be recommended to partner journals

All journal publications are subject to the respective journal’s independent peer-review process.

Programme at a Glance

Date	Programme
Day 0 Oct 31 (Sat)	Registration & Welcome Reception
Day 1 Nov 1 (Sun)	Morning: Opening Ceremony & Plenary Keynote Speeches Afternoon: 12 Parallel Track Paper Sessions (2 rounds) & Poster Exhibition
Day 2 Nov 2 (Mon)	Morning: Journal Editors Forum & Invited Keynote Speeches Afternoon: 12 Parallel Track Paper Sessions · Industry Roundtable · Closing Ceremony & Awards
Day 3 Nov 3 (Tue)	Optional Post-Conference Field Trip (Beijing cultural heritage sites)

A detailed programme with session assignments will be published in October 2026.

Important Dates

Milestone	Deadline
Submission Deadline (Type A abstracts, Type B & C full submissions)	June 15, 2026
Notification of Acceptance	July 15, 2026
Registration Opens	July 15, 2026
Full Paper Submission (Type A only)	September 1, 2026
Early Bird Registration Closes	September 15, 2026
Final Programme Published	October 15, 2026
Registration & Welcome Reception (Day 0)	October 31, 2026
Conference (Day 1–2)	November 1–2, 2026
Post-Conference Field Trip (Day 3)	November 3, 2026
Hotel Checkout	November 4, 2026

Registration Fees

Category	Early Bird (by Sep 15, 2026)	Regular (after Sep 15, 2026)
Delegate	CNY 1,800 / USD 280	CNY 2,200 / USD 340
ITSA Member	CNY 1,500 / USD 230	CNY 1,800 / USD 280
Full-time Student*	CNY 800 / USD 120	CNY 1,000 / USD 150
Accompanying Person	CNY 600 / USD 90	CNY 800 / USD 120

Registration includes access to all conference sessions, conference materials, lunches, tea breaks, welcome dinner, and farewell dinner. Accommodation and travel are not included.
* Student registration requires proof of current full-time enrollment at an accredited institution.

Cancellation policy: Cancellations received before September 15, 2026 will receive a full refund minus a USD 50 administrative fee. Cancellations after September 15 are non-refundable but substitutions are permitted. All cancellation requests must be sent in writing to itsa2026pku@gmail.com.

Venue & Accommodation

The conference will be held at Peking University, Beijing, China. Detailed venue information will be announced in the Second Circular.

Conference hotel information and preferential rates will be provided in the Second Circular.

Post-Conference Field Trip (November 3)

An optional post-conference field trip will be organized, offering participants the opportunity to experience Beijing’s cultural heritage and innovation landscapes:

• Route A — Central Axis Heritage: Beijing Central Axis World Heritage Tour (Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Drum Tower & Bell Tower, Yongdingmen)
• Route B — Digital Innovation: 798 Art District, Zhongguancun Science City
• Route C — Great Wall: Mutianyu Great Wall and Ming Tombs

Separate registration required. Limited to 60 participants per route. Details in the Second Circular.

About ITSA

The International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA) was founded in 2006 in Beijing, China. Registered in London, UK, ITSA is dedicated to promoting dialogue between Eastern and Western scholarship in tourism, hospitality, and related fields. The Association holds biennial conferences rotating across five continents, and publishes the International Journal of Tourism Cities in partnership with Emerald Publishing.

Past conferences have been held in Beijing/Hangzhou (2006), Seoul (2008), Shah Alam (2010), Bali (2012), Macau (2014), London (2016), Tshwane (2018), Wuhan (2020/online), Gran Canaria (2022), and Riga (2024).

For more information, visit intltourismstudies.org.

Contact

ITSA 2026 Conference Secretariat
Peking University, Beijing, China

Email: itsa2026pku@gmail.com
Website: intltourismstudies.org/itsa2026
Submissions: EasyChair — ITSA 2026

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International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA) · Founded 2006 in Beijing
We look forward to welcoming you to Beijing.