ICTR 2024-Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Tourism Research

Edited by Prof Rishi Balkaran and Dr Chris Hattingh

These proceedings represent the work of contributors to the 7^th International Conference on Tourism Research (ICTR 2024), hosted by the Centre for Tourism Research in Africa at the Cape Town Hotel School, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa on 18-19 March 2024. The Conference Chair is Prof Rishi Balkaran and the Programme Chair is Dr Chris Hattingh, both from Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), South Africa.

ICTR is a well-established event on the academic research calendar and now in its 7^th year the key aim remains the opportunity for participants to share ideas and meet the people who hold them. The scope of papers will ensure an interesting two days. The subjects covered illustrate the wide range of topics that fall into this important and ever-growing area of research. Today, more than ever, there is a need for research and scientific guidance as the tourist sector struggles to cope with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, socio-political turbulences, climate change and disaster risk.

The conference will open with a keynote presentation given by Associate Professor Kamilla Swart, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar on the topic of The Future of the Olympic Games - When will it be Africa’s turn? Before the lunch break a second keynote presentation by Associate Professor Kaitano Dube, Vaal University of Technology, South Africa will take place. He will discuss the Opportunities and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Tourism and Hospitality Research. The second day of the conference will open with an address by Professor Ike Ezeuduji, University of Zululand, South Africa who will talk about Bleisure Travel Reimagined: Implications for Research. Finally, there will be a fourth keynote address by Professor Catheryn Khoo, Torrens University, Australia who will talk about Contested HIStory: Representation in HERitage Tourism.

 With an initial submission of 120 abstracts, after the double blind, peer review process there are 52 Academic research papers, 2 PhD research papers, 1 Masters Research papers and 1 work-in-progress papers published in these Conference Proceedings. These papers represent research from Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Finland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Nigeria, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Türkiye, United States and Vietnam.