Research lines of the Doctoral Programme in Tourism

* The urban nature of tourism cities and mass-tourism destinations and their management models. Analysis of the urban characteristics of mass-tourism destinations as a consequence of tourism urbanization. There is a particular interest in the relationship between global and local mobility phenomena and their effect on socio-demographic structures, migrations, urban systems transformations and the ability of tourism destinations to attract resources, investment and population, as well as the challenges that tourism and urban management models must confront in the face of such transformation.

* Living labs and cultural innovation spaces for regenerating urban tourism centres. This research line explores new forms of cultural infrastructure and heritage management for the urban regeneration and development of sustainable, local tourism.

* Online capitalism and the regional geographies of global production networks in the tourism sector.

The principles of social and solidarity economy as a driver of local development through regenerative tourism. This line of research explores alternative models to conventional tourism based on the principles of social and solidarity economy, placing the needs of the community, environmental preservation, and social cohesion at the forefront, while generating a positive impact on economic, social, and cultural levels.

* Local reaction to tourism development and alternative forms of tourism and leisure. The interest in this line of research responds to a need to analyse (1) what local reactions have been like in the face of tourism development through different communication channels; (2) online and offline social mobilization; and (3) the creation, proposal or participation in alternative forms of tourism and leisure, co-creation projects, creative tourism or any other alternative service related to tourism activities that may be considered innovative, groundbreaking or tied to sustainability. 

* Collaborative economy and platform economy in tourism. This research line analyses the tourism platform economy's (TPE) processes and adaptation strategies in the current context of constant change, and the impacts and specific restructuring and reshaping processes brought about by the different developments of the TPE in Spain. Identify the vectors underpinning these adaptation processes, the performativities and modifications in the strategies applied to the use of TPEs in different territorial contexts and economic activities. 

* Tourism and gender. Centred on the analysis and application of gender and feminist approaches to the study of tourism, this research line seeks to analyse women's participation in tourism development processes, their roles and prominence, including the study of gender inequalities in tourist activity. It also includes studies that seek to analyse how tourism impacts on gender relations and identities, for example, in generating women's empowerment processes, entrepreneurship and the anthropological configuration of gender relations and identities in society.

* Using assemblies as a conceptual and methodological framework for analysing sustainable tourism in local and regional contexts.

* Evolutionary economic geography as an interpretative approach for analysing sustainable tourism.

* Political economy in tourism geographies.

* This research line explores and analyses the role of tourism in tourism development processes in developing countries, including a perspective of responsible and community tourism and gender relations. 

* Smart tourism destinations. Strategies and actions designed around the concept of smart tourism destinations and their relationship with the tourism destinations' sustainability, irrespective of their level of maturity. 

* Creation and/or evaluation of tourism products from a sustainability viewpoint, taking into account the social, environmental and economic dimensions. 

* Creativity and culture as tools for fostering or impacting on sustainability in tourism, particularly the processes generated by event tourism. 

* Climate emergency and tourist industry: impacts, strategies and destination resilience. Explore how the new climate emergency context is impacting on the reorganization of tourism in Spain and identify the strategies for addressing this climate emergency in terms of mitigation and adaptation, focusing on the strategies that can increase the industry's climate resilience.

* Tourism and water resources in Spain. Analyse the impact of tourism on water resources and innovative strategies for minimizing consumption and accessing alternative resources in the water-scarce parts of Spain. Ideally, a comparative approach to two or three case studies would be expected.

* Tourism and natural spaces in Spain: governance, conflicts and local sustainability strategies. Explore and understand the tensions and conflicts between tourism and leisure activities in different natural spaces in Spain, and perform a critical analysis of participative governance mechanisms (including the tourist industry) in the management of these natural spaces.

Topics related to regenerative approaches to tourism, regenerative models of tourism (de)growth, regional tourism governance, local communities coexisting with tourism activity, sustainability transitions.

This proposal is offered within the framework of the Plan Nacional I+D 'ADAPTOUR' (2021-2025). It is conceived as an applied approach to the challenges of complex tourist sites, with the idea of generating solutions that promote adaptability and resilience.

Analysis of the construction of the mass tourism phenomenon and its implications. This involves multiple dimensions such as: tourism and class subjectivities; forms and practices of popular tourism; leisure, consumption, and social class; tourism and social reproduction; labor rights and the conquest of vacations; low-cost tourism in the context of the socio-ecological crisis, etc.

This line of work aims to address questions about how contemporary global-local processes, such as those derived from ecological, energy, and digital transitions, impact and affect the configuration, functionalities, and touristic meanings of rural spaces and communities today at an international level. We welcome projects that also advance knowledge on the creation of narratives and cultural meanings about contemporary ruralities and their relationship with tourism activities.

* Analysis of the potential interaction between the development of digitalization processes and the different dimensions of sustainability (Digitainability) in the field of tourism and leisure activities.

* Study of the digitalization and platformization of tourist activities and experiences linked to other economic sectors, local production, gastronomy, crafts, etc.

* Perception of sustainability on social networks or the internet in general, both in relation to the tourism company and the destinations, and how it relates to business aspects, but also of other kinds.

* Aviation and environmental impact.

* Accessibility and air connectivity. Especially in a) remote regions and b) competition in global markets.

* Public policies and market regulation of air transport.

* Impact of digital transformation on passenger experience and management of companies in the aviation sector.

* Analysis of the processes and adaptation strategies of the tourism platform economy (TPE) to the current context of continuous change in Spain. Identification of the vectors on which these adaptation processes are based, the performativities and the modifications in the use strategies of the TPE in various territorial contexts and economic activities.

* Study of the impacts and specific processes of restructuring and reconfiguration caused by the different developments of the TPE in Spain in its main types of tourist destinations (urban, sun and beach, inland), both with regard to the different stakeholders of the activity and in relation to other sectors closely related or that have had an impact (from the primary and industrial sector to other service sectors).

* Identification of good practices derived from social and business mobilization, and innovations in the formulation of public policies and regulation of the phenomenon that pursue the transition of the TPE towards a model that promotes social, economic, and environmental justice.

* Topics related to rural coworking initiatives, digital nomad practices, and tourist mobilities in the context of new rurality and inland regions.

* Remote work and leisure and tourism activities at destinations; reasons, profiles, and impacts of digital nomadism and workationers on the different types of tourist destinations.

* This research proposal focuses on mobility and urban logistics in tourist destinations. It addresses the study of the sector, as well as the companies operating in it. The main idea is that new (digital) technologies are democratizing access to new products and services, while promising a more sustainable future. However, reality is not always so simple.

* This research line investigates the spatial patterns of tourism at both urban and regional levels through the framework of economic geography. It focuses on analyzing how certain economic indicators and policies influence the location and development of tourism. Key areas of study include gentrification phenomena, colocation with certain economic sectors, and the impact of tourism on local territories, with the aim of understanding the complex relationships between tourism dynamics and economic factors in various geographical contexts.

Study the different models available to hotel chains to expand into various markets, with an emphasis on asset-light models.

Identify and analyze the different contractual clauses that may be established between hotel chains and business owners who join the same hotel system.

Identify, collect, and describe the business practices that occur in the relationships between chains and business owners, examining potential conflict situations between both parties.

Study the components of the hotel system (standards and group services) and their relationship with governance within the realm of hotel networks.

Identification, collection, and analysis of the business practices of digital platforms and the inter-business conflicts and consumer disputes they may generate.

Study of the relationships formed between the different actors participating in bilateral markets, with an emphasis on the role that online platforms play.

* Inclusive experience and digitization in organizations. Study how inclusive experience design is managed by organizations operating in the tourist industry. Co-creation of inclusive experiences in shared environments. Integration of digital resources to improve the tourism experience. Digitization in the creation of inclusive tourism solutions.

* Omnichannel marketing in the positioning and image of tourism destinations and its influence on tourists' decision to travel.

Analyse how travellers use different communication channels to obtain information about their trips and ultimately make a final decision about where to go. Companies and tourism destinations should currently be following an omnichannel strategy with the aim of reaching a greater number of travellers, but also to facilitate and improve their experience during the different stages of travel. In this regard, the growth in technology and social media plays a fundamental role. Using this context as a backdrop, this research will analyse how different online communication channels (in particular social media publications, stories and companies' and organizations' exploitation of influencer profiles) determine the positioning and image of a specific tourism destination.

* The use of industry 4.0 in the travel industry: improving the tourist experience. 

According to Philip Kotler, considered by many to be the father of modern marketing, we are living in the era of marketing 4.0, characterized by the use of technology to enhance consumers' buying experience. Accordingly, tools such as geolocalization, apps, chatbots, artificial intelligence and augmented reality have gained significant relevance for companies when it comes to obtaining information about their users (location, likes, preferences) and therefore enables them to offer the best experience possible. Using these ideas as a basis, this research line intends to analyse how industry 4.0 is applied to different stages of a tourist's trip, how these technological tools influence tourists' experiences and consequently, whether they decide to recommend or even return to the same destination.

Inclusive experience and digitization in organizations. Study how inclusive experience design is managed by organizations operating in the tourist industry. Co-creation of inclusive experiences in shared environments. Integration of digital resources to improve the tourism experience. Digitization in the creation of inclusive tourism solutions.

Evaluation of organizational strategies within the framework of transformations resulting from the digital transition and sustainability. Changes in marketing processes due to the application of technology and its effects on consumption patterns.

Topics related to festival and event spaces and the socio-spatial impacts of festivals and events on host places, including their relationship to tourism-related mobilities, digital technologies, social protest / resistance and social inclusion/exclusion perspectives.

Digital and non-digital inclusion in cultural heritage for vulnerable groups.

This line of research covers topics related to gastronomic tourism as a journey tied to food culture and intangible cultural heritage. Likewise, it aims to analyze this tourism as a form of leisure travel linked to territorial and socioeconomic development, considering both its possibilities and limitations.

* Technology's influence on tourists' experience 

This line of research will analyse how technology could influence the development of tourists' experiences and its role as a catalyst for change in tourist behaviour. The research will focus on analysing how far technology is embraced by its users, how co-created experiences are made possible thanks to the incorporation of technology, and the restrictions, limits and negative impacts that technology could have on the touristic experience (over-dependency, reduced face-to-face interaction, risk to privacy, lack of spontaneity, information overload, etc).

* Smart tourism destinations

This line of research is focused on the analysis on so-called 'smart tourism destinations', their effects on transforming spaces in touristic destinations, their management models and how they contribute to competition in tourism destinations. The analysis will take a critical standpoint in relation to the techno-centric focus and position itself in favour of sustainability and its integration into models of territorial development based on territorial intelligence.