Events
Events 2025-2026
International Congresses and Forums
- Sun&Blue Congress (sunandbluecongress.com) Almería, 18 to 20 November 2025
The Chair promoted a round table under the title "Regenerative tourism: between ambition and reality" to critically analyse the concept of regenerative tourism and present experiences and success stories linked to ecosystem restoration and the empowerment of local communities.
Additionally, a brief intervention was made at the panel "Local intelligence for coastal territories: technology, data, and networks", following an invitation by the Mayor of Salou.
- TMS 2025 - Algarve, 12, 13 and 14 November 2025 (virtual attendance)
Members of the research team participated as speakers with two accepted papers. Dr Marta Nel·lo presented Accessible tourism as a path to social sustainability, analysing the web accessibility of 34 tourist destinations using the AccessMonitor tool, and concluding that significant challenges persist in communicating accessible offerings.
Dr Noemí Rabassa presented SouvenirArt: Redefining the Salou Tourist destination through artistic souvenirs, exploring the role of artistic souvenirs as vehicles of culture and authenticity to redefine the destination's image.
- XV International Congress on Tourism and Information and Communication Technologies (TURITEC) - Málaga, 6 and 7 November 2025: Attendance at this academic and professional forum to learn about the main trends in digitalisation, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and smart tourist destinations, with special attention to digital accessibility and inclusive blue tourism.
Professional seminars and trade fairs
- FITUR Madrid, 21 to 23 January 2026: the team from the Chair participated in FITUR, where they caught up on key trends such as regenerative tourism, accessibility, and social sustainability. In addition, the Chair was nominated for the FITUR4all Awards in the "Inclusive Organisation or Institution" category, and its proposal was included in the Best Practices Guide as a reference for commitment to social sustainability.
- Workshop organised by the Catalunya Convention Bureau. Tarragona, 29 September 2025: a meeting to identify the key economic sectors of the region and debate their challenges and opportunities with public, academic, and business representatives.
- XV REDINTUR-Icárion Forum and LII REDINTUR Assembly. Murcia, 20 and 21 November 2025: Dr Noemí Rabassa participated in this benchmark forum for the academic tourism community. The sessions included a round table on tourism sustainability, the presentation of the best Master's theses from the 2024/2025 academic year, and a debate on the strategic challenges and future projects of the REDINTUR network.
- Gastronomy Workshop: Innovation and Sustainability. Tarragona, 11 November 2025: participation in an activity where local stakeholders discussed how new technologies and digitalisation are transforming the sector. The objective of the workshop was to promote a modern local cuisine that respects the environment.
- Disseny Market 2025 Barcelona, 12 December 2025: a visit to this design, craft, and contemporary creation market to identify trends and establish contact with local artists and artisans with potential interest in future editions of the SouvenirART project.
Institutional events and meetings
- Launch of the new marketing strategy of Catalonia 2025-2028 ' Barcelona, July 2025: attendance at the presentation of this proposal, which outlines a paradigm shift towards a model based on sustainability, diversification, and deseasonalisation, with the resident as a central element.
- Presentation of the 'Proximity Tourism' Special by Diari de Tarragona ' Salou, October 2025: Dr Marta Nel·lo participated as a speaker, highlighting the need to diversify the region's tourism offerings-including culture, nature, heritage, and wellbeing-and to generate micro-seasons to structure products throughout the year, focusing on public-private collaboration and moving towards a more sustainable model.
- Inauguration of Chalet Fort ' Salou, 30 October 2026: the team from the Chair took part in the opening ceremony of this Noucentista building, which will host cultural activities, civic participation events, and exhibitions, whilst also becoming the official headquarters of the Chair.
- Meeting of Tourism Chairs ' Murcia, 21 November 2025: a meeting with representatives from the tourism chairs of various Spanish universities to share the research lines and projects developed by each, discuss the main future challenges facing the sector, and strengthen collaborative ties between institutions.
- Meeting with Elisenda Villalta, Costa Daurada Tourism Board ' Madrid, 20 January 2026: within the framework of FITUR, the team from the Chair met with the tourism specialist to agree on lines of collaboration and work regarding accessibility in Costa Daurada wineries.
- Presentation of the Modernist and Noucentista Route ' Salou, 5 February 2026: attendance at the presentation of this new route, promoted by Salou Town Hall, to showcase and value the architectural heritage of the municipality.
- Meeting with Marisa Alonso, Director of Marketing and Communication at Bodegas Valdemar ' Oyón, 17 February 2026: a visit to the winery to learn first-hand about their accessible wine tourism project.
- Meeting with Iñaki Murillo, Director of Bodegas Murillo Viteri ' Cenicero, 17 February 2026: a visit to the winery to learn about their accessibility project.
- Meeting with Juan Manuel Lavín, CEO of the Villa-Lucía Museum ' Laguardia, 18 February 2026: a visit to the wine museum, which is a pioneer in offering a 100% inclusive and accessible experience.
- Meeting with Salou Town Hall and the Minister for Universities of the Government of Catalonia ' Salou, 23 February 2026: Dr Marta Nel·lo participated in the meeting where the project to turn Salou into an observation point for the total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 was presented, aimed at strengthening the municipality's projection as a host for science, culture, and tourism events.
- Presentation of 'Salou, Mediterranean Heritage: Unforgettable Experiences' ' Salou, 2 March 2026: attendance at the presentation of this initiative, which highlights Salou's historical and architectural heritage as an element of identity, social cohesion, and diversification of the municipality's tourism offerings.
- Closing Ceremony of the Capital of Catalan Culture ' Salou, 28 March 2026: attendance at the closing event of Salou's year as the Capital of Catalan Culture
