NEWSLETTER #41- June 2026 CINTURS.
NEWSLETTER #41- June 2026 CINTURS.
CinTurs proudly hosted the 5th edition of THE INC - Tourism, Hospitality and Events INternational Conference, the official conference of ATHENA, welcoming more than 150 delegates from over 60 countries across five continents to explore Personalisation and Immersive Experiences in Tourism, Hospitality and Events. Across three days, the programme delivered 113 oral and 18 doctoral presentations, three world-renowned keynotes, representatives from five leading journals, and dedicated Editors' Corner, ATHENA Panel, and Industry Symposium sessions. Hosting THE INC 2026 marks a significant milestone in strengthening CinTurs' international profile and consolidating its position as a leading research unit in the field, while offering our researchers and PhD students an exceptional stage to showcase their work and build new collaborations. CinTurs warmly thanks all keynote speakers, editors, partners, sponsors, volunteers, and organisers that made this conference possible. See you at THE INC 2028 at Breda University of Applied Sciences!
THE INC 2026 in Faro offered the CinTurs community an excellent opportunity to share research, exchange ideas, and engage with scholars from around the world. With 15 PhD students and 14 members participating, CinTurs maintained a strong presence throughout the conference, delivering 32 oral presentations and 8 doctoral presentations. Special congratulations go to the CinTurs PhD Students who were recognized during the event (from left to right): Kwo Fung Shek (Best Doctoral Presentation Nominee), Raquel Branco (Excellence in Academic Leadership Award), and Carla Palma (Best Doctoral Presentation). These achievements reflect both individual excellence and the quality of research being developed within our doctoral community. CinTurs thanks and congratulates all researchers and PhD students whose presentations, discussions, and active participation continue to strengthen the international visibility and impact of the centre's work.
Academic excellence took centre stage at THE INC 2026 with the Best Paper Awards, honouring outstanding research contributions across the conference's three main tracks. In the Events Track, the award went to Alyssa Eve Brown, Leon Davis, and Serkan Uzunogullari for "Digital Storytelling for Inclusion: Post-Event Narratives of Live Music Attendance Among People with Disabilities". The Hospitality Track award was presented to Anna de Visser Amundson for "Have It Your Way, Design Your Own Green Stay", and the Tourism Track award went to Muqiu Du for "Beyond National Culture: Investigating Cultural Distance and Traveller Satisfaction in Work Exchange Sharing Accommodation (WESA) Using Large Language Models". CinTurs congratulates all the award winners on this well-deserved recognition and thanks them for contributing to the academic excellence that defined THE INC 2026.
We are pleased to announce that Scott Cohen, Integrated Researcher at CinTurs, has been elected 2nd Vice President of the Executive Committee of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism (IAST). His appointment, running from June 2026 to 2028, reflects longstanding contributions to tourism research and recognized leadership within the international academic community. This election further strengthens the international visibility of both the University of Algarve and CinTurs within one of the most prestigious scholarly organizations in tourism studies. We warmly congratulate Scott Cohen and wish him every success in this important role!
Hugo Pinto, Integrated Researcher at
CinTurs, opened Panel I on Smart Specialization at the annual meeting of
the Regional Innovation Council of the Algarve (CIRA), held on 26 May
at CCDR Algarve in Faro.
In his presentation, Smart Specialization Strategies: Lessons, Impacts and the Future of Regional Innovation Policies,
he argued that effective RIS3 strategies require stronger cooperation
among universities, businesses, government, and society, with
familiar actors taking on new roles as co-creators of policy.
The importance of learning from past
path dependencies without being constrained by them, and outlining
priorities for the Algarve, was stressed: reinforcing strategic focus,
fostering cross-sector collaboration, strengthening
the policy mix, and improving governance and monitoring. The session
also featured contributions from regional development stakeholders and
concluded with remarks from José Apolinário, President of CCDR Algarve.
June marked an important milestone for three members of the CinTurs PhD Network, who successfully defended their doctoral theses: Ana Bender (3 June), "DestinationScape: Developing a Scale and Testing a Framework"; Aline Rezende (15 June), "The Impact of Destination Environmental Responsibility on Tourist Behavior and Its Effects on Loyalty"; and Ilze Paris Conceição (23 June), "The Role of Destination Sensescapes in Perceived Destination Sustainability and Well-being". These successful Viva examinations represent the culmination of years of dedication, rigorous research, and commitment to advancing knowledge in tourism. CinTurs warmly congratulates Ana, Aline, and Ilze on this remarkable achievement and wishes them every success in the next stage of their academic and professional journeys.
Lara Noronha Ferreira, CinTurs
Integrated Researcher, took part in Episode 77 of 90 Segundos de
Ciência, published on 17 April 2026.
The episode spotlights an ongoing
University of Algarve research project on the well-being and
satisfaction of young Portuguese people, offering a deeper understanding
of youth experiences and quality of life.
This participation reflects CinTurs'
continued commitment to producing knowledge with social relevance and
impact, as well as to communicating science to wider audiences.
Listen
to the full episode here.
CinTurs shares an opinion article by
Yael Eilan, PhD Candidate in Tourism at the University of Algarve and
CinTurs PhD Student, published by Conta Lá. In Second Homes in the Algarve: The Conversation That Can No Longer Wait,
the author reflects on one of the most pressing issues shaping the
region's future: the growing impact of second homes across the Algarve
territory.
The piece contributes to wider
discussions on sustainability, housing, and the long-term development of
the region, illustrating how CinTurs’ doctoral research engages with
debates of direct social relevance.
Read
the full article here.
CinTurs is part of the organization of
the 14th Portuguese Congress of Sociology, to be held on 22-25 March
2027 at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Algarve, in Faro,
under the theme Building Futures: Sociology in the Public Sphere.
The abstract submission deadline has
been extended to 6 July 2026. Proposals may be submitted in Portuguese,
English, Spanish, or French within the most suitable Thematic
Section/Area.
CinTurs is proud to help bring this landmark gathering of the sociological community to the Algarve!
Submission
guidelines can be consulted here.
