President's Message

Dear Fellows,

Greetings from Amherst, Massachusetts, where the leaves are turning beautiful colors and the mornings are getting cooler, while some parts of the world are heading into warmer and perhaps rainy days. Wherever you are, I hope all is well! Those of us in academia are moving full speed ahead as we settle into the new academic year.

Building on the discussions at our second business meeting in Hong Kong in June 2026, I encourage all Fellows to contribute actively to the Academy’s continued growth, visibility, and intellectual impact. Our key priorities include supporting emerging scholars and PhD students, strengthening international representation and diversity, expanding digital engagement, and fostering collaboration through scholarly publications and Academy position papers. To advance these priorities, we have established two ad hoc committees.

The first committee will focus on digital engagement and online activities, using videoconferencing to facilitate knowledge exchange and broaden participation through online keynotes, Q&A sessions, and virtual panels. These initiatives will strengthen the Academy’s activities between conferences, reduce travel-related environmental impacts, and create opportunities for younger scholars who may lack institutional travel support. Following the suggestion raised at our meeting, David Simmons will establish this working group, with Susanne Becken, Janne Liburd, Tanja Mihalic, Pauline Sheldon, and Marina Novelli as potential members. Fellows interested in contributing are encouraged to contact David.

The second committee, chaired by Bob McKercher and comprising James Petrick, David Airey, Gang Li, Maria Gravari-Barbas, and Ulrike Gretzel, has developed the Academy’s Terms of Reference (TOR) in collaboration with the Executive Committee. Approved by a vote of Fellows in late September 2026, the TOR will guide the development, approval, and dissemination of future Academy position papers and will soon be available on the Academy’s website.

If you recall, at our Hong Kong meeting, Scott McCabe, together with SooCheong (Shawn) Jang and Frederic Dimanche, also presented the position paper Building a Narrative/Key Concepts for the Evaluation of Excellent Scholarship. Building on discussions initiated at the Academy’s 2022 Leuven meeting, the paper addresses concerns about the “publish or perish” culture and its impact on early-career researchers and faculty members. It seeks to encourage more responsible and consistent approaches to evaluating research excellence in tourism and hospitality schools and departments. The committee will continue its work by identifying priority topics, coordinating the development and approval of position papers, and enhancing their dissemination and visibility.

Along the same lines, we have had further discussions about providing ongoing mentorship to emerging scholars, an initiative originally proposed by Ulrike Gretzel. Mentoring is important for the Academy’s future, as it helps nurture emerging scholars, strengthen engagement with the Academy, and ensure continuity across generations of tourism researchers. Ulrike is willing to lead the development of the initiative and is looking for three to four volunteer Fellows to serve on an ad hoc committee to chart a path forward.

These initiatives provide important opportunities to strengthen the Academy’s intellectual leadership, broaden participation, and increase our contribution to tourism scholarship globally. I invite all Fellows to share their ideas, expertise, and time in support of these collective efforts. Please contact the committee chairs to share your thoughts and suggestions with them.

I am also pleased to say that Ulrike Gretzel will continue to spearhead the PhD Essay Competition for our next Academy meeting. Ulrike did an outstanding job organizing, promoting, and implementing this initiative, and I would like to thank her for her excellent work and continued commitment. The competition provides a valuable opportunity to recognize and encourage the research of our PhD students, showcase emerging scholarship, and strengthen the Academy’s engagement with the next generation of tourism researchers. I am confident that this initiative will continue to grow and make a meaningful contribution to our academic community, and I encourage our Fellows to support its continued success.

Let me also share some updates.

Following our successful conference in Hong Kong and based on the result of the straw vote, the Executive Committee asked all the candidates if they wished to proceed to become Fellows of the Academy. Scott Cohen, our Second Vice President, shared that all candidates decided to proceed with the process and the Fellowship has voted on the suitability of the prospective new Fellows. With the voting window having closed in early November, we hope to communicate the outcome of the vote by mid to late November to both candidates and Fellows.

Applications for the Academy’s 2028 conference are now open! Fellows interested in organizing the conference are invited to apply on behalf of their institution by 15 November 2026. Applications should include the main organizers (institutions and Fellows), proposed dates and duration, venue, and any post-conference activities. Please specify fees for Fellows, Emeritus Fellows, accompanying people, and invited guest scholars, noting that up to three Emerging Scholars will be exempt. Clearly outline what the fees cover, including meals, drinks, receptions, coffee breaks, and other expenses.

Applications should also provide accommodation details, a provisional conference schedule, and plans to reduce the event’s carbon footprint. These should address transportation, accommodation, and food choices during and after the conference, as well as how the conference’s carbon footprint and sustainability initiatives will be communicated. Our First Vice President, Maria Gravari-Barbas, is looking forward to your proposals. Please send your proposals to Leslie Fung at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (leslie.fung@polyu.edu.hk).

I am pleased to share the news that Professor Karl Wöber, our Board Chair, was elected President of the European Union of Private Higher Education (EUPHE) at its most recent General Assembly meeting. Over the next four years, he will represent the interests of approximately 700 private higher education institutions and 1.4 million students across eight European countries: Germany, France, Ireland, Austria, Slovenia, Spain, Poland, and Portugal. We congratulate Professor Wöber on this important achievement and wish him every success in his new leadership role as he advances the interests of students and institutions across Europe and further strengthens the EUPHE network.

This achievement underscores the broader responsibility of academic leadership to strengthen international collaboration and address challenges that transcend institutional and national boundaries. These priorities are particularly relevant to tourism scholarship, which can make a meaningful contribution to building resilience, fostering intercultural understanding and peace, and advancing sustainable livelihoods.

In today’s turbulent and unpredictable world, tourism research has a vital role to play beyond economic growth. New research directions should explore how tourism can strengthen community resilience, foster intercultural understanding, promote peace, and create opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. By addressing the realities and challenges of diverse regions, tourism scholarship can help communities build stability, restore hope, and envision a more inclusive and peaceful future.

With warm regards,

Prof. Muzzo Uysal

muysal@isenberg.umass.edu
President,
International Academy for the Study of Tourism