President's Message

Dear Fellows:

First of all, I am pleased to inform you that the votes of the Fellows have now been received and the results of the election of officers for the 2 years starting May 2024 are as follows:

• President: Muzzo Uysal
• 1st Vice President: Maria Gravari-Barbas
• 2nd Vice President: Alan Fyall
• Treasurer: Ulrike Gretzel

On behalf of the outgoing President and Vice President, we would like to extend our warm congratulations to the newly elected officers and wish them every success in their future roles. We are confident that under their leadership, the Academy will continue to thrive and advance the field of tourism research and education.

Secondly, I would like to share with you more details about the 2024 Academy Conference. The 2024 Academy Conference will be a 4-day conference starting from May 14 to 17, and held at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida (USA). The overall theme for the 2024 Academy Conference will be “Transformational Tourism in Disruptive Times”.

With a new 4-day format, the first two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) will feature research by Academy Fellows and invited Regional scholars to discuss the forces of change and their disruptive impact on tourism. Thursday’s third day will involve research presentations and panel discussions by Academy scholars and Invited Scholars. The last day of the conference (Friday) will include research presentations by Emerging Scholars, and research and panel discussions by Academy Fellows focusing on the transformation of tourism.

Similar to the 2022 Academy conference held in Leuven, this conference will start with an opening session where our host and conference sponsors will provide introductory words. Additionally, we will have an invited keynote speaker to provide a robust foundation for the conference. As always, we invite you to present your research and/or participate in one of the several panel discussions. Please submit an abstract (including title, author(s), and text up to 300 words) for the proposed research presentation to the Program Chair by January 31, 2024. Also, Fellows are asked to contact the Program Chair regarding potential interest in creating and/or contributing to a panel discussion by January 31, 2024.

The University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management is looking forward to hosting the next conference. As the world’s leading theme park destination, Orlando offers visitors an unrivaled experience. It also provides a surprising laboratory of cutting-edge design and creativity, analytics, advanced technologies, and sustainable practices for academics. There is much more to offer the discerning tourist when visiting Orlando, Florida. In an article published recently in the UK’s Daily Telegraph, Orlando was described as an “underrated” city with so much more to see and do than simply … heading to the parks! This theme was also taken up recently by Travel+Leisure in their article on Winter Park, a short journey to the north of Downtown Orlando, often described as the European face of Central Florida with its cobblestone streets and Michelin-recognized restaurants. Perhaps the most surprising, and arguably the most stunning, local attractions are the many natural springs that feature across Central Florida.
Visit Orlando Insider Resources: https://www.visitorlando.com/visit-orlando-insider/
Beyond the Theme Parks: https://www.visitorlando.com/things-to-do/attractions/beyond-theme-parks/

Last but not least, as President of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism (IAST) and on behalf of the elected fellows, I am writing to express our sincere concern and disappointment regarding the closure by the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) of the Erasmus Mundus European Master in Tourism Management (EMTM). This joint program by Universities from Girona, Ljubljana and Southern Denmark has become synonymous with excellence, sustainability, and a fully integrated social science and humanities approach to tourism development, which aligns with the core values of our association. As members of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism deeply invested in the knowledge field of tourism, we believe it is essential to voice our collective concerns regarding this decision.

It is important to recognize the international recognition and esteemed reputation that the EMTM program has garnered under the Erasmus Mundus brand of the European Commission since 2010. It is of great concern that University of Southern Denmark, known for its commitment to the Humanities and Arts and internationally recognised excellence in collaborative sustainable tourism development led by Professor Janne Liburd, would choose to ignore the excellence and principles for which the EMTM program has been honoured and awarded. The contribution of SDU professors to the EMTM in terms of humanistic activism in tourism development approaches is impressive, its importance and relevance for development of Danish and worldwide tourism is widely accepted. The decision to cut the program, along with its international commitments, is disheartening given the university’s mission to support scholarship and education. I understand that both rectors from Ljubljana and Girona have already protested about this, but unfortunately, the decision to close SDU's tourism programs remains unchanged.

We remain hopeful that, together, we can make a difference and pave the way for future tourism research and education where the values we hold dear are upheld and nurtured.

Cordially,

Karl