Reignite Mediterranean and Leisure Tourism in the post COVID-19 era
Chair: Professor Dimitrios Buhalis
Monday 11th May 2020 Free Online Conference 12:00-15:30 London time
https://microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk/etourism-lab/event/mediterranean-and-leisure-tourism-in-the-post-covid-19-era/

Reignite Mediterranean and Leisure Tourism in the post COVID-19 era

Coronavirus has costed the life of thousands of people and has unprecedented impacts to society at large around the world. At this difficult times human life and humanity should prevail above everything. Coronavirus has also destroyed economies and generated an economic and humanitarian crisis that we have not seen since the second world war. Transport, travel, tourism, hospitality, sports, entertainment industries and everything that supports socialising were hit worse and are suffering the consequences.

The Mediterranean tourism, travel, transport and entertainment ecosystem has reached ground zero as result of coronavirus. The majority of the business and the regions that depend on tourism and travel are desperate to reopen and go back to the “new” normality. Italy, Spain and France are the 3 most important destinations for tourism in Europe. Greece, Cyprus and Portugal on the other hand managed coronavirus remarkably well and therefore are expected to be able to reopen their holiday resorts early and welcome tourism activity. They can only reopen when it is safe to do for staff, employees and residents of destinations but also of transit and origin regions. In the meanwhile we need to prepare with new processes and procedures across all our functions to be able to reopen in a safe and enjoyable conditions. The European Union and governments need to take care of these regions and coordinate efforts for the support of this ecosystem that is responsible for a significant proportion of employment but also recreation and cohesion of society.

The eTourismLab, International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research, Bournemouth University and Tourism Review are organising an online conference to bring together experts from the Mediterranean region to discuss the condition and preparedness to reopen the tourism industry and exchange ideas and expertise on best ways to REIGNITE TOURISM. This e-conference is supported technically by digitalevent.gr

Reignite Mediterranean and Leisure Tourism in the post COVID-19 era
Chair: Professor Dimitrios Buhalis 

Monday 11th May 2020 Free Online Conference 12:00-15:00 London time 

© indicates confirmed

12:00 -12:30 Reigniting Mediterranean Tourism: Welcome and introduction and Smart Practice
Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Bournemouth University, UK Presentation – introduction

12:30-14:00 Issues and Challenges towards Reigniting Mediterranean Tourism Panel
© Professor Marina Novelli, Brighton University, UK – Presentation – introduction
© Professor Maria Gravari-Barbas, Paris 1- Sorbonne University, France
© Professor Carlos Costa, University of Aveiro, Portugal
© Dr Anna Farmaki, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus
© Professor Eduardo Parra-López, Universidad de La Laguna, Spain

14:00-14:15 Virtual Coffee Break

14:15 -15:30 Preparing for Reigniting Mediterranean Tourism Panel
© Professor Alexandros Paraskevas, University of West London, UK – Presentation – introduction
© Barbara Avdis, Barbara Avdis, Vice Chair Historic Hotels of Europe & Board of Directors GNTO, Greece
© Inmaculada Benito Hernandez, Iberostar Group Corporate director,Communication PR&PA, Spain
© Andrew Agius Muscat, Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, Malta
© Dr Valeria Minghetti, CISET- Ca’ Foscari University Venice, Italy