The Geographies of Leisure and Tourism Research Group (GLTRG) at the Royal Geographical Society, Tourism Education Future Initiative (TEFI) & Tourism RESET are excited to host a FREE two-day virtual symposium to explore the intersection of tourism practice and scholarship in the era of the Anthropocene. As tourism grows as a global industry, scholars and practitioners must come together to critically examine how tourism perpetuates a culture of intense productivity and consumption and consider strategies for disrupting this increasingly toxic culture.
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the negative impacts of tourism on the environment, society, and culture. From overtourism in popular destinations to the carbon footprint of air travel, the tourism industry significantly contributes to the current climate crisis. At the same time, tourism scholarship has been dominated by a culture of intense productivity and consumption. Scholars are expected to produce several research outputs and attend numerous conferences each year. This culture not only perpetuates the unsustainable practices of the tourism industry but also contributes to burnout and mental health issues among scholars.
The symposium invites scholars, practitioners, and activists to come together to explore alternative approaches to tourism that prioritise sustainability, well-being, and social justice. We aim to create a space for critical reflection and discussion where participants can share their experiences and insights and develop strategies for disrupting the toxic culture of intense productivity and consumption in teaching, scholarship, and daily life.
The symposium will feature keynote speeches by leading scholars in the field and panel discussions, workshops, and interactive sessions. Topics will include slowing down tourism and academic practice – strategies to disrupt the system and develop boundaries, discussion sessions on allyship and solidarity, climate justice and intersectionality, and working safely and democratising education. The symposium will also provide networking and collaboration opportunities to foster a community of scholars and practitioners committed to creating a more sustainable and just tourism industry.
Please join us and share with any PGR’s and ECR’s! Everyone is welcome! For program and registration form check out the link: https://forms.office.com/e/apRXAhkmwT
Thank you, and best wishes,
Katharina Bürger
School of Business and Law, University of Brighton
Associate Fellow, Royal Geographical Society with IBG
