Achieving sustainability in territorial and tourism development necessitates a harmonious integration of both low-tech and high-tech innovations. High-tech solutions, such as information and communication technologies (ICT), enhance efficiency in resource management and visitor experiences. For instance, smart city innovations can address challenges like overcrowding and environmental degradation by optimizing tourist flows and infrastructure usage (Lee et al., 2020; Gretzel et al., 2015). Conversely, low-tech approaches, rooted in traditional knowledge and community engagement, offer resilience and cultural preservation. These methods emphasize sustainable practices that align with local contexts, ensuring that technological advancements do not overshadow indigenous practices and societal values (Mazzucato, 2018; Raworth, 2017).
In the context of tourism, the integration of low-tech and high-tech innovations presents a crucial opportunity to promote sustainability while enhancing the visitor experience. Smart tourism technologies, such as real-time monitoring, AI-driven recommendations, and digital twin systems, can facilitate sustainable tourism management by reducing congestion, mitigating environmental impacts, and personalizing tourist experiences (Xiang & Fesenmaier, 2017). However, a complete reliance on digitalization risks undermining authenticity, exacerbating digital divides, and eroding traditional tourism practices (Ali & Frew, 2014). Low-tech solutions, such as slow tourism models, community-based tourism initiatives, and locally crafted experiences, help preserve cultural integrity while ensuring that economic benefits are distributed equitably among host communities (Dangi & Jamal, 2016). The convergence of technological efficiency with community-driven resilience offers a transformative framework for sustainable destination management, aligning with broader social and environmental imperatives.
Marrakech International Conference on Tourism Research (MICTR-6)
The Marrakech International Conference on Tourism Research (MICTR-6) aims to explore how combining low-tech and high-tech innovations can promote the sustainability of territories and destinations. By integrating technological optimization with community-based resilience, we can develop adaptive and inclusive strategies that align with contemporary environmental and socio-economic imperatives.
Conference Themes (Non-Exhaustive List):
- Low-tech and high-tech synergy for sustainable management of territories and tourism
- Smart cities and territorial resilience: innovations and adaptation to global changes
- Sustainable architecture and urban planning: balancing tradition, innovation, and climate adaptation
- Sustainable mobility: innovations in transport and infrastructure for accessible territories
- Overtourism and Sustainable Destinations: Technological and Social Innovations for Resilient and Inclusive Development
- Artificial intelligence and sustainable management of natural and human resources
- Circular economy and eco-design: innovations for the ecological transition of territories
- Territorial governance and responsible innovation: political and strategic issues
- Sustainable tourism: technological innovations and heritage valorization
- Digital inclusion and technological divide: challenges and solutions for territorial development
- Biodiversity and conservation: convergence of traditional knowledge and innovative technologies
- Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for Sustainable Innovation and Territorial Governance
- Climate resilience and crisis management: hybrid solutions for vulnerable territories
- Cultural and creative industries: between handicrafts, digital innovation, and local economic development
- Social and solidarity economy: integrating technological and ecological innovations
- Education and research in sustainable tourism and multidisciplinary innovations
- Ethics and innovation in tourism: balancing technology and authenticity
- Territorial marketing and destination attractiveness: impact of technological innovations
- Geographical dynamics of low-tech and high-tech innovations: inequalities and opportunities
- Sociology of sustainable innovations: perceptions, adoption, and resistance to new technologies
- Economic models and financing of the sustainable transition of territories
- Data and territorial governance: towards smart and sustainable management systems
- Recommendation systems for tourism personalization and destination enhancement
- NFTs and decentralized valorization of cultural heritage
- Gamifying the ecological transition: raising awareness and engaging local communities
- Citizen-centric automation in urban governance and inclusive tourism infrastructure
- Neurodiverse-friendly urban automation: designing inclusive tourism spaces
- Predictive analytics for tourism demand: anticipating flows and optimizing destination management
- Tourist behavior prediction for ethical and responsible marketing strategies
- Urban flood prediction through hybrid modeling: protecting vulnerable and touristic territories
- AI for predicting social inequality hotspots: equity and inclusion in territorial development
