Monday 11th May 2020 Free Online Conference
12:00-15:30 London time
13:00-16:30 Rome time
14:00-17:30 Athens time

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


Chair: Professor Dimitrios Buhalis

About the Online Conference

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

Speakers

Gravari-Barbas
Professor Maria Gravari-Barbas
Paris 1- Sorbonne University, France
Carlos-Costa
Professor Carlos Costa
University of Aveiro,
Portugal
Valeria-Minghetti
Dr Valeria Minghetti
CISET-Ca' Foscari University Venice, Italy
AnnaFarmaki
Dr Anna Farmaki
Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus
Parra-Lopez
Professor Eduardo Parra-López
Universidad de La Laguna, Spain
alexandros-paraskevas
Professor Alexandros Paraskevas
University of West London, UK
Presentation – introduction
Barbara-Avdis-b
Barbara Avdis
Vice Chair Historic Hotels of Europe & Board of Directors Greek National Tourism Organisation, Greece
Inmaculada
Inmaculada Benito Hernandez
Iberostar Group Corporate director,Communication PR&PA, Spain
Agius
Andrew Agius Muscat
Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, Malta

Agenda

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 

12:00 -12:30 London time / 13:00 -13:30 Rome time / 14:00 -14:30 Athens time

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

12:30 -14:00 London time / 13:30 -15:00 Rome time / 14:30 -16:00 Athens time

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 London time / 15:00 -15:15 Rome time / 16:00 -16:15 Athens time

Virtual Coffee Break

14:15 -15:30 London time / 15:15 -16:30 Rome time / 16:15 -17:30 Athens time

Preparing for Reigniting Mediterranean Tourism Panel
Professor Alexandros Paraskevas, University of West London, UK – Presentation – introduction 

Barbara Avdis, Vice Chair Historic Hotels of Europe & Board of Directors Greek National Tourism Organisation, 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

15:30 -16:00 London time / 16:30 -17:00 Rome time / 17:30 -18:00 Athens time

Conclusions and way forward for Reigniting Mediterranean Tourism
Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Bournemouth University, UK Presentation – introduction