The Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) is positioning itself at the heart of the international academic and scientific dialogue on the future of island and coastal tourism, announcing the co-organization of the international conference Island and Coastal Tourism Futures 2026 (ICTF 2026). The event is organized by the Department of Business Administration and Tourism of the Hellenic Mediterranean University, in collaboration with Ningbo University (China) and the University of Angers (France), forming a strong triangle of European and Asian scientific cooperation in the field of tourism.
The conference will take place from September 21 to 23, 2026, at the Central Amphitheatre of the School of Health Sciences, at HMUs Heraklion Campus. It should be emphasized that the event aims to function as a platform for the exchange of evidence-based policies, research outcomes, and best practices for regions that are approaching their environmental and socio-economic limits.
At the core of ICTF 2026 are critical issues affecting islands and coastal zones worldwide. Among others, the conference will highlight sustainable development under the pressure of climate change, digital transformation and smart tourism, economic resilience and new forms of tourism with an emphasis on the experience economy, as well as skills development and human capital. At the same time, the discussion shifts from theory to applied policy, with the goal of shaping realistic and implementable proposals.
At the same time, the organizers issue an open Call for Papers to researchers, academics, and tourism professionals. Selected papers will be presented at the conference and published in the Conference Proceedings with ISBN and DOI, while opportunities are also provided for further publication in reputable international academic journals and participation in collective publishing initiatives, reinforcing the international scope of the event.
It is worth noting that detailed information on thematic areas, deadlines, and submission procedures is available on the official conference website. ICTF 2026 aspires to become a reference point for scientific dialogue on the tourism of the future, at a time when islands are called upon to strike a balance between development and resilience.
