The 4th World Conference on Smart Tourism (WCST 2026) will take place at Duy Tan University in Da Nang, Vietnam, from 16 to 19 December 2026. Organised by the Association for Smart Tourism (AST), the conference will bring together researchers, industry professionals, policymakers and representatives of international organisations to discuss emerging developments in smart tourism.

The conference will be held under the theme “Synergizing Industry and Academia: Harnessing AI for Transformative Tourism and Hospitality in the Global South.” It will focus on how collaboration among universities, tourism businesses and public institutions can support the responsible and inclusive adoption of artificial intelligence across tourism and hospitality.

The academic programme will address five principal areas: AI-driven innovation in tourism and hospitality; smart destinations and sustainable development in the Global South; industry–academia collaboration for digital transformation; entrepreneurship, start-ups and tourism technology ecosystems; and governance, ethics and policy for responsible AI. Topics such as generative AI, automation, intelligent service systems, predictive analytics, personalised travel design, augmented and virtual reality, digital twins, data governance and responsible AI are expected to feature prominently.

WCST 2026 will be co-chaired by Professor Haiyan Song of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Professor Sang T. Lim of Duy Tan University. Alongside presentations by international scholars and industry experts, the programme will include interactive sessions designed for doctoral students and early-career researchers. These sessions will allow participants to present work in progress and receive feedback from senior academics.

Although submissions for full and short papers closed on 31 August 2026, applications remain open for other presentation formats. The deadline for poster and oral presentation submissions is 10 November 2026, with acceptance decisions scheduled for 20 November 2026. Undergraduate students may enter the hybrid Undergraduate Pitching Competition by submitting a one-slide abstract by 30 October 2026. Accepted participants will be notified by 15 November, and final presentations must be submitted by 30 November 2026.

Conference registration is currently open. Early-bird registration will remain available until 30 September 2026, followed by regular registration from 1 to 31 October and late registration from 1 to 30 November. On-site registration will also be available during the conference. Both in-person and online participation options are offered for designated sessions.

Papers accepted and presented at WCST 2026 may also be considered for publication in a special issue of the Journal of Smart Tourism, subject to the journal’s independent editorial and peer-review process.

Conference at a Glance

• Event: 4th World Conference on Smart Tourism (WCST 2026)
• Organizer: Association for Smart Tourism (AST)
• Date: 16–19 December 2026
• Venue: Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
• Conference Theme: “Synergizing Industry and Academia: Harnessing AI for Transformative Tourism and Hospitality in the Global South”
• Full and Short Paper Submission Deadline: 31 August 2026
• Poster and Oral Presentation Submission Deadline: 10 November 2026
• Undergraduate Pitching Abstract Deadline: 30 October 2026
• Early-Bird Registration Deadline: 30 September 2026
• Participants: Researchers, academics, doctoral and undergraduate students, industry professionals, policymakers, and representatives of international organizations
• Presentation Formats: Full papers, short papers, posters, oral presentations, undergraduate pitching, and regional-language sessions
• Publication Opportunity: Accepted and presented papers may be considered for publication in a special issue of the Journal of Smart Tourism, subject to the journal’s independent editorial and peer-review process
• Main Focus: AI-driven innovation in tourism and hospitality, smart destinations, sustainable development in the Global South, industry–academia collaboration, digital transformation, tourism technology entrepreneurship and start-ups, responsible AI, data governance, ethics, and tourism policy
• Conference Website: https://wcst.world/2026/