The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines Cultural Tourism as a category of Tourism that helps tourists learn about other touristic places while excavating their cultures, arts, literature, and history. They also believe that tourists aim to fully experience and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions and products in a touristic destination as a way of fully experiencing this foreign culture.

Cultural tourism as a contemporary phenomenon stands to benefit nations around the globe, spreading their cultural values and norms internationally, and attracting tourists to their cities. Tourism in general stands to greatly boost the economic strength of countries, through the active engagement of the tourists in consumerism, and exchange with local businesses. Many countries’ main source of income stems from cultural tourism, where people visit to experience historical landmarks, local cuisine, and architectural sites. In recent times, nature-based tourism has also gained traction worldwide, where tourists show their appreciation of lush forestry, colossal mountains, and wild preserves, echoing the sentiment of landscape preservation, and a focus on promoting & conserving green spaces.

The sustainability of cultural tourism is thus essential, to continually reap its benefits through time. One of the most pressing facets that demands sustainability, is the mobility through which tourists traverse the globe. Ensuring a sustainable method for travel and mobility will mitigate the effect of transportation on the climate, and preserve our planet. It is also of utmost importance that the attractive landmarks of cities be preserved, lest they erode with time. This is possible through the incorporation of social development, a focus on green public spaces, integration of digital technology, and promotion of health, safety, and responsible waste management around touristic landmarks.

IEREK is organizing the 5th edition of the international conference on Cultural Sustainable Tourism (CST) to help researchers discuss sustainable approaches to preserving the cultural heritage of countries all across the globe. This conference aims to create a mutual understanding in regards to the importance of green tourism by explaining the various techniques that different civilizations use to spread their cultures.

The 5th edition of this conference is an opportunity for participants of different cultures and backgrounds to present their unique natures while also allowing themselves to fully integrate themselves into new cultures.

Conference Scope:

The scope of this conference extensively covers the subject of sustainability specifically concerning cultural tourism, which is essential to the topic, to continually reap its mutual benefits for cities, residents, and tourists for generations. The conference addresses a multitude of essential issues covering the subject of tourism, including cities’ heritage preservation, environmental & green tourism, economic impacts of tourism, digital integration in the tourism experience, and principles of sustainability within the discipline.

Statement of purpose:

This conference aims to ensure a sustainable method for travel and mobility, mitigating the harmful effects of international transportation on the climate, and preserving a safe future for our planet. This conference also aims to preserve the historical, and cultural hallmarks of nations & cities, while ensuring a captivating, and comfortable experience for tourists. Aiming to achieve these aspirational goals, the conference aims to enrich and enliven aspects such as social development, a focus on green space incorporation, integration of digital technology, promotion of health & safety, and responsible waste management around touristic areas.

• 1. Aspects of Sustainable Tourism

  1.1 Demand for Sustainable Travel and Mobility

  1.2 Governmental Role in Maintaining and Improving Destinations’ Capacities

  1.3 Community Interaction for Sustainable Tourism

  1.4 Development Strategies for Sustainable Tourism

  1.5 Integrated Relational Tourism (IRT) as a Tool of Development

• 2. Policies and Mechanisms for Heritage Preservation

  2.1 Heritage Preservation and Green Economy Integration

  2.2 Cultural Heritage Diversity and Green Tourism

  2.3 Globalization and Heritage Management

  2.4 Allocating Cultural Heritage and Environmental Resources, Wealth Conservation and Management

  2.5 Heritage Preservation and Integration in Modern Planning

• 3. User Interaction Based Development

  3.1 User Centered Design and Management for Cultural Heritage

  3.2 Heritage Social Role in Sustainable Development

  3.3 How Demographic Shifts Affect Cultural Identity

  3.4 Social Development in Public and Cultural Spaces

  3.5 Cultural Traditions Evolution Through the Years

• 4. Social And Economic Impacts

  4.1 Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Traditional Values

  4.2 A Responsible Touristic Approach: Stakeholders and User Interaction

  4.3 Consumerism and Tourism

  4.4 Tourism Sustainability and Economic Efficiency

  4.5 Economic Sustainability, Concepts & Impact

• 5. Future Prospects and Trends of Tourism

  5.1 Digital Technology and E-Tourism

  5.2 Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas

  5.3 The Effect of Transportation on Tourism Development

  5.4 Health and Safety Development for Tourism

  5.5 Millennials’ Perceptions of Destination

• 6. Sustainable Environment: Geography and Tourism

  6.1 Ecotourism: Principles and Regulations

  6.2 Natural Resources Management

  6.3 Environmental Hazards: Industrialization, Urbanization and Agricultural

  6.4 Heritage in Socio-Economic Sustainable Development

  6.5 Geo-cultural: Effect of Diversity of Places and Culture on Tourism

All accepted papers of the Cultural Sustainable Tourism (CST) - 5th Edition after the peer-review process will be either published as chapters in the Book Series “Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation” (ASTI) by Springer or in one of IEREK Press' International Journals.

The ASTI Book Series by Springer is by highly professional members of an International Editorial Board to ensure a high-quality publication material to be eventually published online and printable.

The ASTI Book Series is indexed Scopus and will be submitted for indexation in Web of Science (ISI) and  EI-Compendex databases. 

If you are not sure whether you or one of your co-authors will be able to attend the conference, you should bear in mind that there is a fee to be paid for Audiences (Co-authors, Learners, and Interests). The accepted paper will not be included in the conference proceedings without paying the fee (see Conference Fees for more details). A research paper fee allows only one author, whether main or co-author, to attend the conference and receive only one copy of the conference abstract book in both hard and soft copies. Extras can be requested for a fee shown below.

Publishing in ASTI by Springer (Scopus indexed)                  

After the conference, the submitted manuscripts of authors interested in publishing in the ASTI book series will undergo a rigorous peer review process resulting in a final decision made by the editors. Only accepted research will be published as a chapter in the Book Series entitled “Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation” (ASTI) by Springer. The ASTI Book Series is by managed highly professional members of an International Editorial Board to ensure high-quality material for online publication.

The ASTI Book Series is fully indexed in Scopus. Some titles have been successfully indexed or submitted for indexation in Web of Science (ISI).

About the ASTI series

Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation (ASTI) is a series of peer-reviewed books based on important emerging research that redefines the current disciplinary boundaries in science, technology and innovation (STI) in order to develop integrated concepts for sustainable development. It not only discusses the progress made towards securing more resources, allocating smarter solutions, and rebalancing the relationship between nature and people, but also provides in-depth insights from comprehensive research that addresses the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) as set out by the UN for 2030.

The series draws on the best research papers from various IEREK and other international conferences to promote the creation and development of viable solutions for a sustainable future and a positive societal transformation with the help of integrated and innovative science-based approaches. Including interdisciplinary contributions, it presents innovative approaches and highlights how they can best support both economic and sustainable development, through better use of data, more effective institutions, and global, local and individual action, for the welfare of all societies.

The series particularly features conceptual and empirical contributions from various interrelated fields of science, technology and innovation, with an emphasis on digital transformation, that focus on providing practical solutions to ensure food, water and energy security to achieve the SDGs. It also presents new case studies offering concrete examples of how to resolve sustainable urbanization and environmental issues in different regions of the world.

The series is intended for professionals in research and teaching, consultancies and industry, and government and international organizations. Published in collaboration with IEREK, the Springer ASTI series will acquaint readers with essential new studies in STI for sustainable development.

About Springer:

Springer is a leading global scientific, technical and medical portfolio, providing researchers in academia, scientific institutions and corporate R&D departments with quality content through innovative information, products and services. Springer has one of the strongest STM and HSS eBook collections and archives, as well as a comprehensive range of hybrid and open access journals. Springer is part of Springer Nature, a global publisher that serves and supports the research community. Springer Nature aims to advance discovery by publishing robust and insightful science, supporting the development of new areas of research and making ideas and knowledge accessible around the world. As part of Springer Nature, Springer sits alongside other trusted brands like Nature Research, BioMed Central, and Palgrave Macmillan.

Click on the below image to learn more about the editors

Registration

To help the organizers plan for inter-disciplinary dialogue, participants are requested to choose from the conference themes/ Topics upon registration.

They must also refer to, and abide by, the following instructions in registering and submitting their abstracts/ papers:

Types of Participation

1. Attend/ Present Virtually and Publish in Conference proceedings
   

Organized from the comfort of your own home, the conference offers a virtual attendance option for your convenience. That said, participants will have a chance to present their Full paper, online, and have their work considered for publication in the proceedings.

Virtual presenters are required to submit an abstract and extend this abstract following the “author instructions” below and before the deadline (see Important Dates). At least one author must pay the registration fee (see Conference Fees).

For any reason, authors may wish to submit a pre-recorded video presentation no later than 15 days prior to the conference. Alternatively, they may wish to record a voice-over PowerPoint presentation for submission to the conference organizers.

2. Attend/ Present in-person and Publish in indexed Conference proceedings
   

Organized at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.th), Thessaloniki, Greece, offering a Physical attendance option for your convenience. That said, participants will have a chance to present their abstract/research, on campus, and have their work considered for publication in the ASTI Series by Springer as part of the conference proceedings.

See Author Instructions and Conference Fees for more information.

3. Registration to publish in the proceedings without presenting/ attending

If your full paper is accepted, it may be published in the conference proceedings book in the Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation Book Series by Springer (indexed in Scopus) even if you are not attending the conference. In this case, the accepted work will not be included in the final conference program and the fee will cover the cost of editorial handling and peer-review evaluation of your paper (See Author Instructions and Publishing Opportunities).

4. Non-presenting participant

Non-presenting participants may also wish to attend the conference as Audience Members or Co-authors contributing to an already submitted abstract/ paper.

Important Note:

IEREK has an unyielding policy regarding plagiarism. We believe that copying/taking the ideas and work of other Authors without permission and credit is fraudulent.The Reviewing committee and IEREK employees have the authority to reject a paper during its reviewing process, on the basis of the paper being subjected to either minor or major plagiarism.

Authors must refer to, and abide by, the following instructions in submitting their abstracts/ papers:

Step 1: Abstract Submission Process

- The author should prepare and submit an Abstract (250 300 words) through the website and before the abstract submission deadline.

- The abstract should clearly state the purpose, results, and conclusions of the work to be described in the final paper.

- The author should select the most relevant topic for the paper from the corresponding conference topics.

- The author can use/download an abstract writing template to submit the abstract file accordingly.

To download the Abstract Writing Template, Click Here

Step 2: Abstract Review

- Upon submission, an abstract will undergo a preliminary evaluation process by members of our scientific committee.

-A relevant topic of the conference should be proposed with clear writing, aims, and objectives of the study clearly presented and sound literature and methodology of the work.

- The author will receive a notification by email, within 2 weeks, of:

• Approval, after which they will be requested to prepare and submit their full/short paper submissions.
• Rejection, if the topic proposed does not fit the theme of the conference.

Step 3: Paper Submission & Preliminary Review

- The author should prepare and submit a Full/ Long paper (6000-8000 words) through the website and before the full paper submission deadline.

- The full paper should state the major issue(s) addressed, the potential significance of the work, the theoretical and methodological approach(es) pursued, major findings, conclusions, implications, and relevant scholarly references.

- A full/long paper will be included in the conference abstracts book as well as get published online by Springer or by IEREK PRESS Journals.

- The author should submit the Full/Long paper written on the writing template, through our online system before the paper submission deadline.

- The full paper should be written in English as it's the official language of the conference.

Step 4: Similarity Check/ Plagiarism Detection

All Chapters will be screened for similarity using iThenticate; a Turnitin Plagiarism detection software, used for academic publishers. Springer Similarity guidelines are as follows:

• Max. % from all sources: 10-15%
• Max. % from one source: 3-5%
• Higher than 30% (all sources): Reject completely
• Lower than 30% (all sources): Ask for revision to decrease the similarities  

To download Paper Writing Template, Click Here

Step 5: Payment Completion & Confirmation

Once Preliminary approval for presentation at the conference and/or consideration for publication is granted, authors will be expected to complete payment in reference to the Conference Fees.

Note: 
In this phase of revision, the research paper will be evaluated based on its originality, structure, and relativity to the conference theme. If the paper gets acceptance by one reviewer, a paper preliminary acceptance notification will be sent to the author accordingly.

- As soon as payment is confirmed and done successfully, corresponding official documents can be issued from our end such as:

• A signed/stamped preliminary acceptance letter
• Receipt of Payment
• Visa Invitation Letter

Step 6: Rigorous Peer Review Process

Only after payment is confirmed,

- and the full paper submission deadline is reached, a submitted full-length paper is assigned to an Editor from the Editorial Board, in alignment with IEREK’s revision SOP (double-blind process).

- Each paper/ chapter is evaluated by a minimum of two reviewers, after which a final decision by the responsible Editor is made. There is no maximum to the number of times a paper can be reviewed, depending on the quality of the submission.

- Once a decision is made by the Editors, IEREK Editors will communicate one of the following three final decisions:

• Accepted without comments
• Revise and Resubmit – Minor or Major revision
• Final Rejection

- If modifications are in order, authors will be sent the relevant instructions and a deadline will be set. Missed deadlines may result in complete exclusion from the final publication/ final rejection.

- A back and forth process, modifications will be sent back to the responsible Editor/ Series Editor and another round of evaluation conducted.

Attending conferences is very beneficial, especially, on the professional level; conferences are full of people promoting new ideas which will expand your knowledge and undoubtedly help your career.

• Open Discussions:We bring together leading academic scientists to exchange and share their experiences and research results in all fields. Furthermore, you get to converse with other researchers from different universities and countries. You learn from experts in the field. It is a great opportunity to find more about your field and listen to ideas that could help inspire research ideas of your own.
  
  
• Internationally Accredited Certificate:The participants are granted internationally recognized certificates which will be added to their certificates of experience or could be presented to the official authorities concerned.
  
  
• Publication: The conference proceedings will be published by one of IEREK Press' Journals, either in "Resourceedings" or "ARChive". High-quality manuscripts, based on scientific committee evaluation, will get the chance to be published either in Environmental Sciences & Sustainable Development (ESSD) by IEREK Press or as a book chapter in the ASTI book series by "Springer".
  
  
• Research Technologies:Conferences also can expand your resources by providing a great opportunity to promote gathered information on new technologies related to your research. Moreover, they let you test them out, share teaching tools and techniques, or even obtain samples of textbooks.
  
  
• Networking:Conferences help in networking which often increases your chances of collaboration in future projects. As you can engage with respectable professors and discuss with them the very latest research projects they could be working on.
  
  
• Academic Reputation:Attending many conferences will make you a known figure in academic circles, not to mention the benefits for your C.V as it will show that you are an active member of the academic community.
  
  
• Conference Proceedings Material:Delegates will have the choice of receiving the conference proceedings as either a hardcover book or in digital format on a CD. The CD will additionally contain proceedings from previous conferences in this series.

Moreover, all conference papers are archived online in the E-Library of IEREK‘s website where they are immediately and permanently available to the international scientific community.

Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης

A. Physical Attendance

• The registration fee does not cover accommodation expenses. A list of accommodation options can only be suggested by our team if available. Contact [email protected] to inquire.
• The fee covers:
  • The conference Kit inclusive of: a printed abstracts book, a softcopy of the abstracts book on a USB/CD, Conference notebook, IEREK pen, Conference Flyers/ Printouts.
  • IEREK Participation/ Contribution Certificate
  • Preliminary Acceptance Letters
  • Consideration for publishing in the IEREK ASTI series by Springer or IEREK Press
  • Lunches and Coffee Breaks
• If multiple abstracts by the same first author submitted to the conference, a 25% discount is applied to each additional submission.
• Each research paper should have one main author who should pay the full fee (Author fees) regardless of attendance. Co-authors, each, have their own fees to pay to attend the event. This applies to online attendance as well as physical attendance.
• A research paper fee allows only one author, whether main or co-author, to attend the conference and receive only one copy of the conference Abstract book in both hard and soft copies. Extras can be requested for an additional fee.
• Professionals are categorized as participants who are not affiliated with universities such as practitioners, policymakers, entrepreneurs etc.

B. Extra Fees

*Authors may request that their kits be delivered, for an additional fee decided by the courier, and upon request. Alternatively, authors located in Egypt can pick them up from Cairo/ Alexandria office.

Payment Terms and Guidelines:

• Authors who have registered and completed payment for virtual attendance CAN request a change to physical attendance. However, a change from physical to virtual is NOT possible.
• After online registration and payment, the registration fee cannot be reimbursed.
• Final Acceptance/ rejection of your full/ extended paper can only be given after the peer review process.­­
• Inclusion in the conference program, acceptance letters issuance and consideration for publication must be preceded by registration and payment completion.
• Payment of the registration fee can be made via the following methods (only after online registration):
  • Bank transfer
  • Online payment gateway
  • Cash in IEREK branches
• Contact our Financial Department for inquiries/ requests.

- For participants who need Entry Visas to the country where the conference will be held, IEREK will issue the corresponding invitation letter for accepted applicants to facilitate visa issuance.

- Please notice that we will endeavor to assist you in obtaining a visa but the responsibility is yours and the decision rests solely with the appropriate Embassy.

Invitation Letter Issuance Process

1- In case the participant is an author who has submitted a research paper to the conference, it must get accepted by the Scientific Committee

2- Required participation fees must be paid

3- The participant should send the following information to the conference's official email:

* A clear copy of passport

* Passport number

* Full name as written in your passport.

* Date of Issuing and Expiration

* Date of Birth

* Email address of the nearest Embassy/Consulate to you

* Mobile Number including country code

4- Conference coordinator will issue the needful invitation letter and send a copy to the participant's email, in addition to another one to the corresponding email address of embassy/consulate

5- The participant should print out the invitation letter along with all other required documents by the embassy/consulate and apply for VISA

 A.Physical Attendance