Introduction
Sustainable Tourism 2024 is the eleventh meeting organised in this successful series. The first was held in Segovia (2004), followed by one in Bologna (2006), Malta (2008), the New Forest, home of the Wessex Institute (2010), A Coruña (2012), Opatija, Croatia (2014), Valencia (2016) and Vienna (2018). Both 2020 and 2022 meetings were held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The series success can be attributed to the realisation that, today, tourism is an important component of development, not only in economic terms but also for broader human knowledge and welfare. Tourism is an activity accessible to a growing number of people leading to a greater importance for transport and communication links.
Human societies benefit from tourism in many ways. New forms of economic activity leading to greater wealth depend on tourism. Nowadays, tourism strongly enhances our perception of the world. Through its physiological and psychological elements, it promotes human welfare, due to both the enjoyment of discovering new territories as well as increased contacts with near or far away societies and cultures.
The tourist industry has nevertheless given rise to some serious concerns, including social transformations and ecological impacts. Many ancient local cultures have practically lost their identity due to their societies having orientated their economy only to this industry. Both the natural and cultural, rural or urban, landscapes have also paid a high price for certain forms of tourism. Natural ecosystems are now becoming a rarity on the planet and ecologists talk today about ‘socio-ecosystems’. These problems will persist if economic benefit is the only target, leading to short-lived financial gains that become ruinous in the long term; they are also intensified by the visitors’ increasing cultural and environmental demands. Environmental education in the tourist sector faces a major challenge in addressing these concerns.
Technological and social developments associated with tourism also play an important environmental role by strongly affecting natural changes inherent in the Earth’s ecosystem (the ‘ecosphere’). Also, technological and social changes are inherent to mankind (the ‘noosphere’) and are now becoming widespread. Cities are growing rapidly and industry requires increasingly larger areas. Many traditional rural areas are being abandoned. However, many historic agricultural districts have maintained, or even recovered, their local population numbers through intelligent tourism strategies focused on nature and rural culture. Natural landscapes and biodiversity are becoming increasingly appreciated. The tourism industry must be able to respond to these aspirations.
This conference aims to promote ways of protecting the natural and cultural landscape through the development of design and management strategies which minimise the adverse effects of tourism. This can be achieved through the involvement and active collaboration of planners, developers, engineers, scientists and the society as a whole.
All published papers from previous meetings are archived in the Wessex Institute eLibrary (www.witpress.com/elibrary) where they are easily and permanently available in Open Access format to the international community.
Conference Topics
The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at the conference. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.
- Tourism strategies
- Tourism as a development tool
- Sustainable business models
- Sustainable tourism implementation
- Sustainability assessments
- Destination management
- Social and physical infrastructure
- Cultural and heritage tourism
- Marine and coastal areas tourism
- Medical, health and sport tourism
- Ecotourism
- Rural tourism
- Industrial tourism
- Gastronomic tourism
- Dark tourism
- eTourism
- Tourism and the environment
- Landscapes and protected areas
- Tourism and local communities
- Climate change
- Transport for tourism
- Technology for tourism
- Tourism education
- Simulation models
- Project image
- Safety and security
Benefits of Attending
USB Drive
Delegates will receive a USB drive at the conference containing the presented papers.
Publication
Papers presented at the conference are to be published in a volume of WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment (Electronic ISSN: 1743-3541). The publication will be available in both electronic and hard copy.
Indexing
The WIT Transactions are DOI registered with CrossRef and are currently listed in indexing services such as Scopus and Google Scholar, as well as being submitted to the Web of Science. All conference books are listed in the British Library and American Library of Congress.
Open Access and Digital Archive
All conference papers are archived permanently on our electronic library where they can be downloaded for free (www.witpress.com/elibrary).
Peer review
To ensure the quality of our publications, abstracts and papers are double peer-reviewed by members of the International Scientific Advisory Committee and other experts, with manuscripts processed through CrossRef Similarity Check to screen for plagiarism.
Reduced Fee for PhD Students
The Wessex Institute believes in the importance of encouraging PhD students to present and publish innovative research at its conferences. As a result, the Institute offers PhD students a much-reduced conference fee.
Networking
Participants can present their research and interact with experts from around the world, as part of a unique community.
Publication of Papers
Peer review
To ensure the quality of our publications, abstracts and papers are double peer-reviewed by members of the International Scientific Advisory Committee and other experts, with manuscripts processed through CrossRef Similarity Check to screen for plagiarism.
Publication
Papers presented at the conference are to be published in a volume of WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment (Electronic ISSN: 1743-3541). The publication will be available in both electronic and hard copy.
Indexing
The WIT Transactions are DOI registered with CrossRef and are currently listed in indexing services such as Scopus and Google Scholar, as well as being submitted to the Web of Science. All conference books are listed in the British Library and American Library of Congress.
Open Access and Digital Archive
All conference papers are archived permanently on our electronic library where they can be downloaded for free (www.witpress.com/elibrary).
Location
Seville is the capital of the Andalusia region and is situated on the river Guadalquivir. The city is more than 2,200 years old and has a distinct personality and a large and well-preserved historical centre. The old town contains three world heritage sites: the Minaret of La Giralda, the General Archive of the Indies and the Alcázar Palace. The city is also home to many convents, churches, palaces, museums and gardens including the Museum of Fine Arts, Parque de María Luisa and the Gothic Cathedral which is the site of Christopher Columbus’s tomb. It is believed that flamenco originated in Seville, and there are many flamenco shows on offer all over the city, as well as the museum dedicated to the art.
Conference Venue
The conference will take place at the Hotel Meliá Lebreros, situated in the vibrant heart of Seville. This extraordinary hotel reflects the unique character and charm of the beautiful historical city. It boasts a modern design, luxurious rooms, and state-of-the-art facilities. For those seeking relaxation or a workout, the hotel also offers an outdoor swimming pool and a well-equipped fitness area. Conveniently, it’s situated less than a 15-minute drive from Seville Airport and just 700 meters from the main train station.
Conference Venue address:
Meliá Lebreros
C. Luis de Morales, 2,
41018 Sevilla,
Spain
Travel Information
Conference Venue address:
Meliá Lebreros
C. Luis de Morales, 2,
41018 Sevilla,
Spain
Travelling by Air
- Seville International Airport (8 km from Conference venue)
- Jerez Airport (87 km from the Conference venue)
- Madrid Airport (550 km from the Conference venue)
Seville International Airport
This airport has great connections to other Spanish and European cities such as Frankfurt, Paris, London, Rome and Lisbon. Airlines servicing the airport include Vueling, Iberia, TAP Portugal, Ryanair, EasyJet, Transavia, Air Europa and Lufthansa as well as many more. For full information on airlines and destinations from this airport, visit the airport website http://www.aena.es/es/aeropuerto-sevilla/index.html
Bus: The airport is connected to the city with a bus that runs from 04.30h to 01.15h every day. You will need to take the EA Line to Seville. The journey takes 35 minutes and the cost is €4 for a single ticket, €6 for a return journey. The airport bus stop is situated in Santa Justa (train station), 10 mins walking distance from the hotel. For further information visit: http://tussam.es/
Taxi: There is no need to book this in advance as there are plenty of available taxis. The journey from the airport to the hotel takes around 15 minutes and costs approximately 35€.
Jerez International Airport
Slightly smaller than Seville airport, Jerez is very convenient for delegates travelling from Germany. Please visit the airport website for full information on airlines and destinations: http://www.aena.es/en/jerez-airport/index.html
Train: Jerez Airport is connected by national rail service (RENFE) with Seville. Trains stop eight times a day at the Jerez airport station. The journey to Seville is 1 hour and 11 minutes and a single ticket would cost approximately 11€. Once you arrive to Seville train station (Santa Justa), you can take a taxi to the hotel (€6) or bus number 21 to Poligono San Pablo stop which is 1 minute walk to the hotel.
Madrid Barajas International Airport (Adolfo Suarez Madrid Barajas Airport)
For delegates arriving from outside Europe, this will be the most convenient airport to fly to, and either continue the journey by plane or by high speed train to Seville. For information on all airlines flying to Madrid, visit the following website link http://www.aena.es/en/madrid-barajas-airport/index.html
Travelling by Train
In order to take the high speed train to Seville, you need to take the train C-10 at Terminal 4 that will take you to Madrid Atocha train station from where you will be able to take the high speed train (AVE). The line that connects the airport with the city centre runs from 05.58h to 22.27h and a single ticket will cost you around 3€. We recommend that you buy the ticket for the high speed train (AVE) to Seville in advance on the Spanish railway website. The prices will vary depending when you buy the ticket and the time of day you are travelling. Visit http://www.renfe.com/ for further information.
Once you arrive to Seville train station (Santa Justa), you can take a taxi to the hotel (€6) or bus number 21 to Poligono San Pablo stop which is 1 minute walk to the hotel.
Getting around Seville
Getting around in Seville is easy. The centre of Seville is compact and easily accessible by foot. Walking from the Universidad de Seville and el Parque María Luisa to Plaza Nueva is less than 20 minutes.
Buses are the easiest and cheapest way to get around Seville if you're going a little further. Los Autobuses Urbanos cost 1.40€ per ticket, or billete. Bus service is daily from 6am to 11:15pm. The city tourist office will provide a booklet outlining bus routes. If you plan to use them a lot buy a bonobus at a kiosco (newsstand) or estanco (tobacco shop).
The bus network is comprised of circular (C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4 buses) and line routes (north, south, east and west). You can catch most city buses in one of four locations: Plaza Nueva, Plaza de la Encarnación, La Barqueta, Prado de San Sebastian.
For more information and links visit http://www.sevillatourist.com/index.html
Please note that all information included above is correct at January 2024. All prices and travel details are subject to change.
Additional Information
Please use the links below to access additional information related to the conference. All links open in a new window.
Here's what our delegates have to say...
"The experience in the conference was very good. Organising these kind of conferences takes a lot of effort. I am immensely pleased and acknowledge Ms Marta Graczyk for her immediate responses and help throughout the conference. "
Amit Passi, India (attended Air Pollution 2021)
"It was the first time that I, A. Silva, attended a conference, and the experience couldn't be better. Very well organised, structured, and interesting. It was a great opportunity to know what it has been done so far concerning air quality, and to understand what can be done in the future."
Ana Silva, Portugal (attended Air Pollution 2021)
"The online conference was perfectly organized."
André Buchau, Germany (attended BEM/MRM 44 2021)
"In July 2000, I attended the Urban Transport Conference which was held in Cambridge UK. It was the first international conference in which I presented one of my research works. After that, I regularly attended the annual Urban Transport Conference [...] until Pisa 2011, where I had the honor of receiving the WIT Eminent Scientist Medal [...] Finally, after over twenty-one years I am still happy and proud to publish and collaborate with the Wessex Institute."
Antonio Pratelli, Italy (attended Urban and Maritime Transport 2021)
"This is my first experience in a conference of this type at the international level. I loved the openness and the welcome, they give you confidence to keep moving forward. We are going to continue participating, I congratulate you."
Bethy Merchan, Ecuador (attended Water and Society 2021)
"The review of this conference was fast and very formative and organized. The topics were different and there was a well-organized program and presentation. I would like to share in the up-coming conference. "
Deena El-Mahdy, Egypt (attended Materials Characterisation 2021)
"Wessex Institute of Technology (WIT) and its' staff are very professional and mindful toward participants and their needs before, during and after conferences. It is a great pleasure when working with with WIT."
Deena Govender, South Africa (attended Sustainable City 2021)
"Very good space to share experiences."
Jhon Chahua, Peru (attended Disaster Management 2021)
"These conferences are a good opportunity to get to know and to share research, as well as to meet other researchers in the field."
Jone Belausteguigoitia, Spain (attended Sustainable City 2021)
"Organization is perfect, namely the assistance of Marta Graczyk."
Jorge Ribeiro, Portugal (attended Sustainable City 2021)
"My experience at the SAFE conference was, as on previous occasions, excellent: you have the opportunity to present your work with the appropriate level of detail and in front of an interested, competent and international audience."
Marco Bietresato, Italy (attended SAFE 2021)
"I was more than happy to attend the Materials Characterization 2021. I was benefitted by the entire experience of it, starting from writing the paper and finally attending it online. I learnt a lot from other delegates. The Chief Academic Officer of WIT, Prof. Santiago, was very friendly and welcoming. The conference coordinator, Ms. Marta was highly cooperative and prompt in resolving any queries and overall conduct of the conference."
Pushpa Jha, India (attended Materials Characterisation 2021)
"Overall, very good. [The Conference Coordinator] did a marvelous job with helping me when needed. "
Tor Stålhane, Norway (attended SAFE 2021)
"It was a precious and unforgettable academic journey for me. The organizers of the conference are enthusiastic and thoughtful, and the scholars are talented. This conference brought me inspiration and thinking that I could not get by publishing articles in journals alone."
Zhongliang Chen, China (attended AFM/MPF 2021)
Wessex Institute