INVTUR 2020 International Conference

Tourism has become one of the world’s leading industries. According to the  World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), it represents almost 10% of the world’s GDP and accounts 30% total share in services exports, emphasizing its essential contribution to economic growth and development of nations (UNWTO, 2018). The booming global tourism has propelled several countries affected by recession toward economic recovery, such as the case of Portugal. In 2015, the United Nations (UN) launched the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by all member countries. This new agenda has a key mission of permanently eradicating poverty in our world. To achieve this, 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets were identified in advancing the efforts of countries, societies and the private sector.

Undeniably, tourism embodies the ‘seeds of growth,’ with a strong capacity to expand the socio-economic fundamentals of destinations. In recent years, the tourism development process is no longer vertically focused on a few products i.e. ‘sun-sand-sea.’ Tourism has eventually spread from seaside destinations to cultural sites and then flourished to a number of small and mid-sized cities, boosting a renewed phase of urban tourism. Emerging forms of tourism are becoming responsible for generating pressures in some urban areas including ‘overtourism.’ However, these circumstances open opportunities in shaping and creating new growth poles for cities, enabling ‘spill over’ to the rest of the territory. Tourism as a multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral, holistic and systemic industry, is endowed with potentials to contribute to the Sustainable Development, as firmly supported by the UNWTO. Despite numerous studies focusing on the relationships between tourism, sustainability and sustainable tourism, a comprehensive discussion is needed on how tourism can positively and directly contribute to each of the SDGs.

Leading the way, INVTUR 2020 shall become an avenue - an interactive, dynamic and international platform where academics and practitioners can discuss best practices and strategies in research and knowledge management through partnerships. In the previous edition, it has drawn more than 700 participants from over 30 countries across five continents. It has become a forum for discussion and scientific interaction that offers an unforgettable experience to all participants: in scientific, networking potential and social terms. INVTUR – an established international tourism conference of recognized value, has been organized by the University of Aveiro since 2010, in collaboration with several partner universities from different countries. Located in the modern and touristic city of Aveiro, the University of Aveiro boasts its reputation as a world-class higher education institution and one of Portugal’s most dynamic and innovative universities. Being among the best in the country in scientific and architectural terms, the University also prides itself as a Center of Excellence in Tourism.

INVTUR 2020 (the 5^th edition) celebrates its 10^th anniversary with the theme “Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals: From Theory to Practice.” It aims to present researches of utmost significance that contribute to the debate and raise new approaches and emerging paradigms about how tourism can effectively attain sustainable development. It also intends to share and apply scientific knowledge into practice that impacts the transformation of destinations. Tourism best practices shall be showcased by hosting a number of parallel meetings and special events. The Business Innovation Tank (BIT) usually held in a large, enclosed tent near the conference venue, will present companies and organizations’ innovative and sustainable tourism practices and experiences. Parallel to the academic conference, discussions shall be held involving academics and people from the business sector and organizations. Overall, participants will have the opportunity to strengthen partnerships with various stakeholders, including researchers, industry professionals and government entities, through dialogue and sharing techniques on how to use research results to the best interest of the tourism sector and society.

INVTUR 2020 welcomes relevant scientific works in tourism that support and contribute to the attainment of the following SDGs:

SDG₁ | End poverty in all its forms everywhere

SDG₂ | End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

SDG₃ | Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

SDG₄ | Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

SDG₅ | Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

SDG₆ | Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

SDG₇ | Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

SDG₈ | Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

SDG₉ | Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

SDG₁₀ | Reduce inequality within and among countries

SDG₁₁ | Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

SDG₁₂ | Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

SDG₁₃ | Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

SDG₁₄ | Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

SDG₁₅ | Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

SDG₁₆ | Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

SDG₁₇ | Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Additionally, thematic sessions related to specific topics shall be organized (see thematic sessions).