Global tourism is widely expected to be a growing industry. But in the wake of globalization places have increasingly become destinations, and can be seen both as relatively independent and also interwoven in complex relations of cooperation, competition or interdependency. In order to succeed in a global environment, destination management and branding has therefore become a relevant topic for the tourism industry, which is also true for the Mediterranean region

1. 1st Call for Papers
Destination Management and Branding
in the Mediterranean Region
Sustainable Tourism in Times of Crisis
19th-21st April 2012
Antalya, Turkey
The Mediterranean stretches from the first olive tree that you find in the North
down to the first palm trees that rise close to the desert. Fernand Braudel
Theme of the conference
Global tourism is widely expected to be a growing industry. But in the wake of globalization
places have increasingly become destinations, and can be seen both as relatively independent
and also interwoven in complex relations of cooperation, competition or interdependency. In
order to succeed in a global environment, destination management and branding has therefore
become a relevant topic for the tourism industry, which is also true for the Mediterranean
region.
This conference on Destination Management and Branding in the Mediterranean Region has
been developed to provide a long-term platform for scholars and practitioners in order to get
them involved in an ongoing dialogue and exchange of ideas.
Departing from the several economic and political crises in the region, we aim at discussing the
role of sustainable tourism. Accordingly bearing the title Sustainable Tourism in Times of
Crisis, the first edition of this conference will take place in Antalya in April 2012. Keynote
lectures, paper sessions and panel discussions will contribute to a broad understanding of the
complexity of tourism, ranging from topics like marketing and management to ecological and
social impacts. Also, the conference will enrich the dialogue between various actors from
different disciplines and different parts of the Mediterranean region by discussing the role of
governance and networks as well as the impacts of tourism on society and culture.
The conference adopts an interdisciplinary and international perspective aiming to approach
the theme from both a theoretical and practical point of view. Since the issue of sustainable
tourism crisis management with respect to economics, politics, society, environment, and
culture is the major focus of the conference, we will provide a platform for the presentation
and discussion of best practice examples. The dialogue between the participants can result in a
common understanding of sustainable tourism that will function as the base for further
thoughts and actions on destination management and branding.
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2. Contributions
Contributions by scholars, researchers, doctoral students, practitioners, tourism agencies and
associations, consultants, and local/regional authorities are invited to address the general
conference theme in divergent places, at different scales and in varied contexts. Empirical
work and case studies that can offer new insights and best practice guidance are particularly
encouraged. Contributions will preferably (but not exclusively) focus on one or more of the
following conference sub-themes:
 Methods & Trends
- definitions of sustainable tourism
- mass tourism and alternative approaches (e.g. cruise tourism, cultural tourism,
religious tourism)
- trends in sustainable tourism (e.g. eco tourism, creative tourism, agro tourism)
- methods and tools of destination management and branding
 Management & Marketing
- controlling of sustainability (e.g. licensing, labelling, greenwashing)
- tourism crisis management
- economic impacts of sustainable tourism
- trends in tourism marketing and communication (e.g. New Media)
- sports and events
 Governance & Networks
- tourism planning
- role of destination management organizations
- tourism network development
- stakeholder identification and community involvement
- public-private partnerships and cooperation
 Society & Culture
- role of local communities
- role of local lifestyle, culture, and heritage
- role of local products (e.g. agriculture and craftwork)
- differences in perceptions between tourists and locals
- conflict of interests between tourists and locals
- social impacts of tourism (e.g. codes of ethics)
 Nature & Resources
- tourism geography
- tourism ecology
- adaption to environmental challenges
- green tourism practices
- ecologic sustainability (e.g. efficiency of water resources)
Abstract Submission
Abstracts of no less than 250 and no more than 400 words should be sent as email
attachments to: conference@inpolis.com, until the end of November 2011. Abstracts should
clearly state the purpose and conclusions of the work to be described in the full paper and
outline the relation of the paper to the conference theme and sub-themes. Abstracts
should be written in English.
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3. Scientific Committee
 Akin Aksu (Akdeniz University Antalya)
 Caroline Couret (CREATIVE TOURISM NETWORK® - Barcelona)
 Antonios A. Giannopoulos (Athens University of Economics and Business)
 Ares Kalandides (INPOLIS/ Georg Simmel Centre for Metropolitan Studies Berlin)
 Mihalis Kavaratzis (University of Leicester)
 Vittoria Lena (AGENS Italy)
 Ige Pirnar (Yasar University Izmir)
 Sükrü Yarcan (Istanbul)
 Yildirim Yilmaz (Akdeniz University)
Timetable
Deadline for abstract submission: November 2011
Notification of acceptance: 5th January 2012
Registration starts: 6th January 2012
Full paper submission: 15th March 2012
Registration ends: tba
Conference Information
The conference will be held in the city of Antalya, Turkey, between Thursday 19 th and Friday
20th April 2012. The conference programme will include keynote lectures, paper sessions and
panel discussions. Delegates will have the opportunity to follow a field trip on Saturday 21 st
April 2012 (tbc).
Conference Initiators/Organisers
 in:polis|urbanism
(http://www.inpolis.de/inpolis_en.html)
 School of Tourism and Hotel Management – Akdeniz University Antalya
(http://turizm.akdeniz.edu.tr/en)
Conference Secretariat
 in:projectis|project management – Verena Röber
email: conference@inprojectis.com
Conference online
 Visit the conference website
(http://placemanagementandbranding.wordpress.com/mediterranean-tourism-conference/)
Further information
 We are currently working on special issues in international journals. More information
will follow.
 For further organizational information please contact: conference@inprojectis.com.
Ares Kalandides Yildirim Yilmaz
INPOLIS Akdeniz University
Berlin/Antalya, 28th June 2011
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