The inaugural International Conference on Tourism and Peacebuilding Future (TPF 2026) will bring together scholars, researchers, doctoral candidates, policymakers and tourism professionals in Belgrade, Serbia, on 4–5 December 2026.

Hosted by the Academy of Hospitality, Tourism and Wellness, the conference will be held under the theme “Exploring Tourism, Dialogue, Reconciliation, and Sustainable Development.” It will provide an interdisciplinary platform for examining whether—and under what ethical, political and structural conditions—tourism can contribute to peacebuilding, dialogue, reconciliation and conflict transformation.

Moving beyond idealised narratives of tourism as a force for peace, TPF 2026 will encourage critical and evidence-based discussion of tourism’s potential and limitations. Particular attention will be given to conflict-affected and post-conflict destinations, divided societies, culturally diverse communities and politically sensitive regions.

Conference topics will include tourism and peacebuilding theories; tourism in conflict and post-conflict societies; tourism diplomacy and international relations; intercultural and interfaith dialogue; sustainable and community-based tourism; education and youth mobility; peace trails, peace parks and peace destinations; destination resilience; and the role of digital media, artificial intelligence and smart governance in shaping narratives of peace and conflict.

The International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) will participate as an official conference partner. TPF 2026 will also contribute to the international commemoration of IIPT’s 40th anniversary through a special session titled “40 Years of IIPT: Tourism as a Force for Peace.” The session will review four decades of work promoting tourism as an instrument of peace and intercultural understanding while considering future directions for peace-oriented tourism.

Researchers may submit abstracts of up to 300 words by 10 October 2026. Notification of acceptance is scheduled for 15 October, and conference registration will close on 15 November 2026. Accepted abstracts will be published in the TPF Conference Book of Abstracts.

Papers presented at the conference may be considered for a special issue of the International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage. Selected authors will be invited to submit extended papers by 15 March 2027. According to the conference organisers, the journal is Scopus Q1, open access and does not charge publication fees. Submissions will be subject to the journal’s editorial standards and double-blind peer-review process.

Further information is available on the official TPF 2026 conference website.

Conference at a Glance

• Event: 1st International Conference on Tourism and Peacebuilding Future (TPF 2026)
• Organisers: Tourism Peacebuilding Future and the International Institute for Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage
• Host Institution: Academy of Hospitality, Tourism and Wellness
• Conference Partner: International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT)
• Date: 4–5 December 2026
• Location: Academy of Hospitality, Tourism and Wellness, Tošin Bunar 179đ, Belgrade, Serbia
• Conference Theme: “Exploring Tourism, Dialogue, Reconciliation, and Sustainable Development”
• Abstract Submission Deadline: 10 October 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: 15 October 2026
• Registration Deadline: 15 November 2026
• Optional Full-Paper Deadline: 15 March 2027
• Abstract Requirements: Maximum 300 words, written in English, with British spelling preferred
• Presentation Format: In-person presentations of up to 12 minutes, followed by three minutes of discussion
• Participants: Academics, researchers, doctoral and postdoctoral scholars, students, policymakers, destination managers, tourism and peacebuilding professionals, NGOs, tourism stakeholders and representatives of international organisations
• Special Session: “40 Years of IIPT: Tourism as a Force for Peace”
• Publication Opportunity: Selected papers may be considered for a special issue of the International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage, subject to double-blind peer review
• Main Focus: Tourism and peacebuilding, reconciliation, conflict transformation, tourism diplomacy, intercultural and interfaith dialogue, post-conflict recovery, sustainable and community-based tourism, social justice, destination resilience, peace education, digital technologies, peace trails, peace parks and peace destinations
• Submission E-mail: tpfconference@akademijahtw.bg.ac.rs
• Conference Website: https://akademijahtw.bg.ac.rs/tpf_conference_2026_en.php