We are pleased to invite submissions for the 6th biannual International Conference on Tourism and Business (ICTB), to be held at Edinburgh Napier University. Next year’s conference explores the timely and significant theme of Wellbeing in Tourism and Business, with a focus on the critical role wellbeing plays in individuals’ lives, workplaces, and society at large.
Conference Theme
Wellbeing has emerged as a key concept in contemporary discourse and is now widely recognised as central to personal and professional life. It is commonly associated with an individual’s overall life satisfaction and encompasses multiple dimensions, including physical, mental, social, and financial health. Far from being a static state, wellbeing can be actively enhanced through positive lifestyle choices, supportive social environments, and organisational practices.
In tourism contexts, wellbeing is often linked to specialised tourism types—such as wellness tourism, spa tourism, and yoga retreats—due to their focus on delivering restorative and transformative experiences. Beyond these niche areas, tourism also plays a broader role in enhancing the wellbeing of participants, attendees, host communities, and employees, underscoring its potential for positive social and societal impact.
In business and organisational settings, wellbeing is increasingly viewed as essential for cultivating a resilient, productive, and engaged workforce. Employers are investing in initiatives aimed at supporting employee wellbeing across physical, psychological, social, and financial dimensions. These efforts are not only key to staff satisfaction and retention but also contribute to stronger workplace cultures, innovation, and long-term business performance.
The theme also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), reinforcing the importance of promoting healthy lives and wellbeing for all, at all ages.
Conference Aims
ICTB 2026 seeks to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue on the concept of wellbeing across tourism, events, hospitality, and business sectors. We invite contributions that critically examine how wellbeing is defined, measured, and promoted, as well as how it intersects with broader issues such as sustainability, policy, leadership, and organisational change.
Topics of Interest (include but are not limited to):
- Wellbeing tourism (e.g., spa, yoga, wellness retreats)
- Employee, customer and participant wellbeing and organisational culture
- Financial wellbeing and business sustainability
- Social and community wellbeing through tourism and events
- Mental health in the workplace and service industries
- Visitor and resident wellbeing in tourism and event planning
- Sustainable tourism and wellbeing outcomes
- Post-pandemic recovery and wellbeing
- Leadership, ethics, and wellbeing
- Digital wellbeing and remote work in tourism/business contexts
Submission Guidelines
- Abstracts should not exceed 300 words.
- All submissions must be original, unpublished work.
- Submit via: ICTB2026@napier.ac.uk
Important Dates
- Abstract Submission Deadline: 5th January 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: 6th February 2026
- Early Bird Registration: 1st February 2026 – 31st July 2026
- General Registration: 1st – 31st August 2026
- Conference Dates: 2nd – 5th of September 2026
Target Audience
This conference welcomes academics, researchers, industry practitioners, policymakers, and postgraduate students working in fields such as:
- Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Event and Festival Management
- Business and Management
- (International) Education and Management
- Human Resource Management
- Accounting and Finance
- Marketing and Consumer Behaviour
- Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics
For more information, visit 6th International Conference on Tourism and Business or contact Dr Sarah Snell: s.snell@napier.ac.uk or ICTB2026@napier.ac.uk
We look forward to welcoming you to Edinburgh for a stimulating and collaborative exploration of wellbeing in tourism and business.