The Tourism International Scientific Conference (TISC), organised by the Faculty of Hotel Management and Tourism in Vrnjačka Banja, University of Kragujevac, will be held on 4 June 2026 in Vrnjačka Banja, Serbia, under the theme Tourism and Sustainable Transformation. The conference serves as a forum for critical discussion and knowledge exchange among researchers from the Republic of Serbia and abroad, focusing on the ongoing transformation of tourism in response to environmental, economic, social, and technological challenges. As part of the conference programme, a panel discussion entitled The New Spa Economy – Transformation from Social Health Resort to Integrated Destination will also be held, addressing contemporary challenges and development perspectives of spa destinations in the context of sustainable and integrated tourism development. These challenges are increasingly redefining tourism systems and development paradigms towards sustainability, resilience, innovation, responsible governance, and long-term value creation.

Tourism is often identified as a significant source of environmental and socio-cultural pressure, underscoring the need for more sustainable and adaptive development models. Growing awareness of tourism’s impacts on destinations has reinforced the importance of sustainability in both academic research and professional practice. In light of these developments, the 9th Tourism International Scientific Conference focuses on the transition from traditional linear business models to more circular and regenerative approaches, with particular emphasis on biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, and the preservation of local food systems and gastronomic heritage as integral components of destination sustainability.

At the international level, academic and professional debates continue to focus on how tourism should respond to climate change, demographic trends, technological advancement, and changing tourist behaviour. In this context, the conference aims to explore future directions for tourism development and the conditions under which travel and tourism activities will evolve, while minimising negative environmental impacts and enhancing positive contributions to local communities and regional economies. TISC2026 welcomes contributions from academics, practitioners, and doctoral students in tourism, economics, management, law, urban and spatial planning, sociology, demography, geography, and related disciplines, both from Serbia and abroad. Through interdisciplinary scholarly discourse, the conference seeks to advance tourism-related theory and practice and to contribute to a better understanding of the processes driving sustainable transformation in tourism.

 First announcement