The 14th International Conference on Tourism and Hospitality (ICT2026) will take place from 27–29 November 2026 at Hainan University in Haikou, Hainan Province, China, bringing together tourism researchers, academics and industry professionals from around the world to discuss the future of island tourism and hospitality.

Organized under the theme of "Island Tourism, Digital Empowerment and Governance Innovation", the conference will examine how islands can strengthen their economies through sustainable tourism development, digital transformation and innovative governance models.

Hainan: China's Tropical Tourism Hub

ICT2026 will be hosted on Hainan Island, China's southernmost tropical province, renowned for its year-round warm climate, beaches, rainforests and mountain landscapes. In recent years, Hainan has also become one of China's most important tourism and economic development zones through the establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP).

The island now operates under a special customs and free trade regime designed to encourage international investment, tourism and trade. The policy is based on three core principles:

• Zero tariffs on most imported goods entering Hainan;
• Low corporate and personal tax rates for qualified businesses and professionals;
• A simplified tax and customs system that facilitates trade and investment.

The Free Trade Port also introduces a distinctive customs model described as "freer access at the first line, regulated access at the second line, and free circulation within the island." Goods imported directly from overseas enjoy simplified customs procedures and, in many cases, duty-free treatment, while goods entering mainland China remain subject to mainland customs regulations.

For visitors, the policy has helped transform Hainan into one of the world's largest duty-free shopping destinations while supporting new investments in hospitality, tourism infrastructure, international retail, logistics, healthcare and modern services.

Conference Themes

ICT2026 will focus on three major themes:

1. Island Tourism and Hospitality
2. Digital Empowerment
3. Governance Innovation

The conference emphasizes the growing importance of islands as destinations for sustainable tourism development, highlighting examples ranging from sovereign island states and small island developing states (SIDS) to coastal and river islands around the world.

Call for Papers

The conference welcomes full papers and extended abstracts in English related to the conference themes. Accepted papers will be presented during ICT2026, while selected contributions will be considered for publication in conference proceedings or recommended for submission to leading international tourism journals.

Participating journals include:

• Tourism Geographies
• Current Issues in Tourism
• Tourism Planning & Development
• Tourist Studies
• Tourism and Hospitality Research
• Journal of Destination Marketing & Management
• Tourism Review
• Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism
• Discover Sustainability
• Journal of Responsible Tourism Management
• Sustainability in Tourism and Hospitality

International Collaboration

ICT2026 is jointly organized by:

• School of International Tourism and Public Administration, Hainan University (China)
• School of Tourism, University of the Balearic Islands (Spain)
• Department of Tourism Management, South China University of Technology (China)
• School of Tourism, Dublin Institute of Technology (Ireland)
• Department of Tourism Economics and Management, University of the Aegean (Greece)
• Department of Tourism, Jeju National University (Republic of Korea)

Conference at a Glance