Call for abstracts: Monitoring and Evaluating Sustainability in Island Tourism: Challenges and Innovations in Destination Development

The ITRC is co-organising a special session on island tourism at the 33rd Nordic Symposium on Tourism and Hospitality Research which will be held in Bornholm from 17-19th September 2025.

The growing demand for island tourism offers economic opportunities for small island communities, which are often characterized by environmental vulnerability, economic dependence and depopulation. Aligning tourism planning with local needs and encouraging local participation is important to ensure community well-being and therefore sustainable destination development. Responsible and well-planned tourism strategies are crucial for the sustainability and long-term success of these island destinations. 

This session sets focus on island tourism, and the unique challenges island destinations face, as well as innovative approaches to address them. It will highlight the numerous ways to monitor and evaluate sustainability in tourism destinations. 

This session is open to papers discussing various innovative ways and issues of monitoring and evaluating sustainability in island destinations considering both  theoretical and applied perspectives. Contributions employing qualitative and quantitative methodologies are equally welcomed, as are interdisciplinary approaches that bridge theory and practice.

Session topics may include, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Digital tools for destination development
• Social, cultural, economic, and environmental impacts of tourism in island communities
• Indicators and measurement of sustainable tourism
• Sustainable tourism planning
• Climate adaptation and resilience in island tourism
• Innovation in data collection and analysis for sustainability assessment
• Governance models for sustainable island tourism
• Case studies and best practices in island tourism
• Sustainable transportation and mobility solutions for islands
• Education and capacity building for sustainable tourism in island settings

The session is organised by Ása Marta Sveinsdóttir, researcher at the ITRC, Laufey Haraldsdóttir, assistant professor at Hólar University, and Mauro Ferrante, a professor at the University of Palermo.

Further information on the conference and abstract submission can be found on the conference website.