Research lines

The NOUTUR group proposes to develop its research within the framework of the following priority research lines, without ruling out future proposals that may arise in the current context of continuous change.

1. Analysis of the interrelation and impact of socio-economic, environmental, cultural, and digital transformation processes on the development of contemporary tourism and their influence on territories and communities (SDGs: 8, 11, and 12)

• Tourism in the era of polycrisis. Acceleration of the digitalization process (consolidation of the platform economy in tourism, emergence of AI, blockchain) and the impact of the climate emergency, along with its relationship to other ongoing or emerging social, political, or economic crises.
• Integration of the twin transitions (digital and sustainable) in tourism, beyond technological solutionism, examining the intersection between both processes. Possibilities for sustainable digitalization in tourism consumption, production, and intermediation.
• (Re)production of tourism. Towards a political economy of tourism, exploring the potential of tourism degrowth and/or regenerative and evolutionary approaches for transitioning to fairer models from economic, social, and environmental perspectives.
• Recognition of social, digital, and climate inequalities or gaps arising from this context of polycrisis, while also acknowledging the opportunities it presents.

2. Observation of human (socio-economic, cultural), non-human, and ‘more-than-human’ factors in the transformation of consumption behaviors and tourist mobilities (SDGs: 11 and 12)

• New motivations and behaviors in tourism consumption and mobility. From staycations to transformations in mass tourism and opportunities for popular and community tourism.
• Impact of remote work. Digital nomads and workcationers in urban and rural environments / coworking spaces.
• New digital experiences. Experiences with virtual and augmented reality and immersive visits.
• Preferences for sustainability. Growing interest in eco-friendly experiences, carbon footprint reduction, and regenerative tourism. Changes in consumption patterns due to extreme weather conditions.
• Perception and adaptation processes to tourism by residents and social fabric, including social movements and assemblage approaches (interconnection between material and immaterial elements).

3. Study of the adaptation of tourism organizations to new consumption dynamics, as well as labor transformations, the emergence of new organizational cultures, emerging business models, and changes induced by the polycrisis (SDGs: 8 and 9)

• Technological innovations in production, processes, and especially in organization. Challenges and opportunities of platformization and the implementation of artificial intelligence. Possibilities and limitations of augmented and immersive reality in travel experiences.
• Implementation of sustainability and/or social responsibility measures in tourism companies and experiences. Reduction of the carbon footprint, circular and regenerative tourism.
• New opportunities for community, popular tourism, and cooperative tourism organization. Social economy in tourism and other socio-economic innovations.
• Innovations in tourism organizational cultures. New business and commercialization models.
• Decent working conditions in tourism, with special attention to platform-mediated work.

4. Analysis of the evolution of governance models and new forms of tourism, and their influence on the levels of local and regional resilience and sustainability (SDGs: 11, 16, and 17)

• Multilevel governance, public policies, and tourism planning/management strategies.
• Cooperative, proximity, and regenerative models for the transition to fairer tourism.
• Technology and sustainability in public/private tourism organization and management.
• Socio-ecological, business, and human resilience as key elements in tourism organization.