A preliminary programme for the conference is provided below; this will be updated as we continue to plan the conference activities in the run up to ICTB 2026.

Conference Schedule

2 September

15.00 – 17.00

"Edinburgh Castle: Use of historic spaces for tourism and events"
Talk and tour by Historic Environment Scotland at Edinburgh Castle.

Places are limited - prior booking required.

 

18.00 – 20.00

Scottish Poetry Library Welcome Drinks reception:

Reading by Stewart Conn: Scottish Poet and Play write

3 September

8.30 – 9.00

Registration:

Tea & Coffee: Foyer

9.00 -9.45

Conference Welcome: Lindsay Stewart Lecture Theatre

  • Andy McGoff – The Business School, Edinburgh Napier University
  • Louise Todd – Tourism Research Centre
  • Veerades Panvisavas, Chair of the Tourism and Hospitality Management Division,Mahidol University International College
  • Eggli Florian – Lucerne University of Applied Science and Arts
  • General announcements – Sarah Snell

 

9.45

Keynote speaker: Dr Eleni (Elina) Michopoulou: Introduced by Pavlos

Lindsay Stewart Lecture Theatre

 

“The Wellbeing Illusion in Tourism: What Research Tells Us — and What It Misses”

 

10.45

Coffee Break: TBC : 2nd floor landing and social space

11.00

Parallel sessions

Wellness Tourism & Human Flourishing 2/05

 

 

 

Communities, Inclusion & Social Justice 2/06

 

Employee Wellbeing & Workforce Futures 2/07

 

Overtourism, Liveability &

Destination Balance 2/09

 

Nature, Restoration & Ecotourism 2/10

12.45

Lunch - Chapel dining room

13.30

Keynote speaker: Dr Allan Jepson: Introduced by Sarah Snell
Lindsay Stewart Lecture Theatre

“The indispensable human experience: researching well-being interventions and outcomes in tourism and events”

14.30

Parallel Sessions

Festivals, Storytelling & Place Identity 2/05

Leadership & Organisational Resilience 2/06

Medical Tourism & Health Futures 2/07

Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Futures 2/09

PhD workshop

Room 2/10

Find your place in the academic world

15.45

Coffee break – 2nd floor landing and social space

16.00

Parallel Sessions

Social Innovation & Community Benefit 2/05

 

Transformative Events, Wellbeing & Performance 2/06

 

Innovation & Hospitality Futures 2/07

 

Wellbeing in Academia & Education 2/09

 

PhD workshop

Room 2/10

From PhD to publication: What nobody tells you about indexed Journals

17.15

Closing remarks for day 1: Lindsay Stewart Lecture Theatre

19.00 – 22.45

Dinner and Ceilidh – Grassmarket Community Project

4 September

8.30

Coffee and pastries

9.20

Welcome to second day of the conference

9.30

Keynote speaker: Dr Melanie Kay Smith: Introduced by Jane Ali-Knight
Lindsay Stewart Lecture theatre

 

"From Liveability to Longevity: The Future of Wellness in Tourism and Hospitality"

 

10.30

Coffee: 2nd floor landing and social space

10.45

Parallel Sessions

Community-Based Tourism & Local Resilience 2/05

 

Sustainable Hospitality & Resource Management 2/06

 

Heritage, Authenticity & Meaning 2/07

 

Work, Identity & Occupational Wellbeing 2/09

 

AI, Smart Tourism & Future Technologies 2/10

 

12.30

Lunch - Chapel dining room

13.30

Panel session: Lindsay Stewart Lecture Theatre

14.30

Coffee 2nd floor landing and social space

14.45

Parallel Sessions

ESG, Regenerative Tourism & Sustainability 2/05

 

Digital Detox, Mindfulness & Psychological Wellbeing 2/06

Emerging Concepts in Wellbeing Research 2/07

Crisis, Safety & Tourism Resilience 2/09

Resident Wellbeing & Tourism Development

 

16.30

Closing session and awards: Lindsay Stewart Lecture Theatre

Farewell and outlook to 2028: Jürg Stettler

17.00 – 18.30

Drinks reception: River suite

5 September

11.00

Walking tour of Edinburgh’s Old town

Meeting point: Edinburgh Castle Esplanade

Delegate Fees

 

General admittance: Academic

(Price includes all social activities)

Undergraduate & Postgraduate students

(Price includes all social activities)

General admittance: Non-academic

(Price includes all social activities)

Early Bird

1 February – 31 July 2026

 

 

£375

 

£300

 £450

Regular registration

1 August – 24 August 2026

£450

 

£350

 

 £525
 

General admittance: Academic

(Price does not include evening activities)

Undergraduate & Postgraduate students

(Price does not include evening activities)

General admittance: Non-academic

 

Conference only: Day rate

- 3 September

- 4 September

 

£200

£200

 

£175

£175

 

£250

£250

Gala dinner only

 

£90

£90

 £90

 

If written cancellation is received before August 5th 2026 a refund of all meeting fees will be made, minus an administration fee of £50. No refund will be possible after August 5th 2026, but substitute delegates can be nominated.

The full conference fee includes: 

  • Welcome drinks reception
  • Lunches during the conference
  • Daily coffee and refreshments
  • Gala Dinner
  • Voluntary excursions on the 2nd and 5th of September