The Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) hosted the 13th Sino-European International Tourism Conference – “Island & Coastal Tourism Futures 2026” (ICTF 2026) at its Heraklion Campus from 21 to 23 September 2026. The major international scientific conference was dedicated to contemporary challenges and future prospects in island and coastal tourism.
The conference brought together more than 100 participants from 15 countries, while its scientific programme included 85 research presentations, three interactive workshops, thematic panels and special sessions, during which contemporary research approaches and applications concerning the future of island and coastal destinations were presented and discussed.
ICTF 2026 was organised by the Department of Business Administration and Tourism of the Hellenic Mediterranean University, in collaboration with Ningbo University in China and the University of Angers in France, strengthening international scientific dialogue and academic cooperation between Europe and China in the field of tourism.
The conference forms part of the Sino-Greek Research Institute for Tourism and Heritage, a collaborative initiative of HMU’s Department of Business Administration and Tourism and Ningbo University. The initiative represents another important step towards the further development and deepening of cooperation between the two Universities, which began in 2018.
Welcome Address by the Rector of HMU
At the official opening of the conference on Monday, 21 September, the Rector of the Hellenic Mediterranean University, Professor Nektarios Papadogiannis, delivered a welcome address to the international scientific community, welcoming participants to Crete and HMU. Welcome remarks were also delivered by the Dean of the School of Management and Economics, Professor Alexandros Apostolakis, the Head of the Department of Business Administration and Tourism, Associate Professor Alexandros Garefalakis, as well as representatives of the Conference Chairs.
In his address, the Rector highlighted the distinctive character of the conference and the importance of the discussion on the future of island and coastal destinations:
“What makes this conference particularly important is its focus on the future of tourism in island and coastal destinations — places where economic development, environmental sustainability, cultural heritage, local communities and the well-being of both residents and visitors are deeply interconnected.
Crete is an ideal setting for this dialogue. As a Mediterranean island with a rich cultural heritage and a strong tourism economy, it offers unique opportunities, while at the same time facing significant challenges. The future of island tourism cannot be solely about growth. It must also be linked to sustainability, resilience, inclusion, accessibility and the responsible use of innovation and technology.”
The Rector warmly thanked the Conference Chairs, Professor Irini Dimou from HMU, Professor Jean-René Morice from the University of Angers, Professor Shiwei Shen from Ningbo University and Professor Honggang Xu from Sun Yat-sen University, as well as the Local Organising Committee. He made particular reference to the School of Management and Economics, its Dean, Professor Alexandros Apostolakis, the Department of Business Administration and Tourism, and its Head, Professor Alexandros Garefalakis, for their contribution to the successful organisation of the conference.
Strengthening the link between academia and the tourism industry
Particular interest was generated by the two thematic panels, which strengthened the connection between academic research, the tourism industry, institutional stakeholders and the local community.
The academia-industry panel entitled “Sustainable Resources Management in Island and Coastal Destinations” featured, in alphabetical order, Professor Jaruwan (Nikki) Daengbuppha from Naresuan University, Thailand; Dr Yolanda Koulouri from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research; Mr Andreas Moniakis from Cretan Holidays; Mr Manos Borboudakis from Metaxa Hospitality Group; and Mr Minas Papadakis from the Heraklion Port Authority.
The second panel, entitled “Taste of Place: Gastronomy as a Driver of Tourist Experience and Island Competitiveness”, featured, in alphabetical order, Mr Spyros Balantinos, Dr Michalis Katharakis from the Mediterranean Agrifood Competence Center, Mr Nikolaos Miliarakis from the Heraklion Development Agency and Professor Ji Wen from Jinan University, China.
The scientific programme also included keynote presentations by Stefano Malatesta from the University of Milano-Bicocca and Arturo Gallia from Roma Tre University, Professor Chin Ee Ong from the Macao University of Tourism, and Professor Aikaterini Manthiou from NEOMA Business School in France. The conference concluded on Wednesday, 23 September, with three workshops that gave participants the opportunity to engage with contemporary tourism issues through interactive forms of learning and exchange of experiences.
The conference was co-organised with the Region of Crete, the Regional Development Fund of Crete and the Municipality of Heraklion, with the kind support of the Heraklion Port Authority, Cretan Holidays, Sunweb, CretAquarium and Tziola Publications. The participation of institutional and business stakeholders made a substantial contribution to strengthening the conference’s links with the local community and Crete’s tourism industry.
The international participation and wide-ranging themes of ICTF 2026 highlighted Crete as a meeting point for academia, the tourism industry and destination stakeholders. At the same time, the conference strengthened the role of the Hellenic Mediterranean University in developing international academic partnerships and fostering constructive dialogue between Europe and China on the challenges and future prospects of contemporary tourism.
