Call for paper: Themed Issue: Mediterranean Tourism

Themed Issue: Mediterranean Tourism

Mediterranean tourism stands at a defining crossroads, where the imperatives of sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience must evolve into a broader vision of regenerative development. The region, with its extraordinary natural beauty, cultural diversity, and historical depth, faces mounting challenges stemming from climate change, seasonal and special concentration, urbanisation, and shifting geopolitical and economic realities. Rapid technological developments also create both opportunities and disruptions, transforming how tourism destinations and organisations are managed, experienced, and communicated. From digital governance systems and smart tourism platforms to artificial intelligence, immersive media, and data-driven decision-making, technology can enable regeneration when ethically and inclusively applied.

Collectively, the contributions will illuminate how tourism can act as a bridge between economic vitality, social equity, and environmental restoration, helping Mediterranean destinations regenerate their resources and communities while inspiring global best practice in tourism development.

Suggested Themes

We welcome papers on the following (but not limited to) Mediterranean Tourism topics:

1. Policy, planning, and governance for sustainable and regenerative tourism, focusing on the strategic, institutional, and policy dimensions that shape tourism development and management:

Regenerative tourism
Sustainable tourism policy and planning
Governance, policies and institutions
Policy, planning, and development
Government intervention in tourism
Regional innovation and technology
Life cycle of tourism destinations
Economic policy, finance and regions
Politics, governance and society
Public policymaking and processes
Insularity and island challenges.

2. Innovation, technology, and smart systems in tourism, exploring how emerging technologies are transforming tourism systems, operations, and experiences, artificial intelligence and service robots:

Robots and AI
Big data and management for tourism
E-tourism and Tourism 2.0
Information technologies in tourism
Intelligent systems and smart destinations
Metaverse and immersion
Smart tourism and information systems planning
Knowledge management and innovation
Digital marketing and interactive communication.

3. Marketing, branding, and consumer experience investigating how destinations and businesses create value through marketing strategies, consumer understanding, and brand development:

Branding in tourism and hospitality
Marketing strategies and innovations
Marketing places, events, and spaces
Tourism communication strategies
Consumer behaviour and decision-making
Tourist experience, expectations, and satisfaction
Value co-creation in tourism services
Co-creation and customer engagement
Social media and influencer marketing
Destination image, film, and fashion tourism.

4. Community, culture, and heritage in tourism focusing on cultural, social, and community dimensions of tourism development and their role in regeneration and resilience:

Community-based tourism
Culture and cultural heritage
Art and heritage
Food and gastronomy tourism
Event, sport, and festival tourism
Film and drama tourism
Agrotourism and rural tourism
Eco-tourism and sustainability
Locals-residents relations and resistance to tourism

5. Human capital, education, and organizational development highlighting talent management, human resource development, training, leadership, and organizational innovation across tourism and hospitality:

Employment and training
Educational management
Talent management and human resource management
Entrepreneurship and SMEs
Strategic management innovation
Knowledge innovation in hospitality and marketing
Innovation, creativity and change
Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Equality, diversity, and labour operations.

6. Resilience, risk, and climate action focuses on managing crises, environmental challenges, and the transition toward climate-resilient destinations: