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Postcolonial, decolonial, authentic? (Re-)imagining tourism in the 21st century

Conference on March 4th -5th 2027 in Potsdam, Germany

Organized by Henriette Seydel (University of Augsburg, Germany), Alien Spiller (Tourism Watch – ECPAT Germany), and Prof. Dr. Melanie Uth (University of Potsdam, Germany).

Supported by the Postcolonial Studies Collective, University of Potsdam.

Call for Papers

Tourism in the 21st century operates within a complex web of historical, cultural, and economic dynamics, many of which are deeply rooted in colonial legacies. Issues such as climate change, overtourism, stereotypes, visa injustices, land grabbing, threats to minority languages and cultures, and human rights violations are examples of severe inequalities. As global mobility increases, so does the need to critically examine the ways in which tourism shapes and is shaped by neo-, post- and decolonial discourses. 

This conference aims to bring together interdisciplinary perspectives from anthropology, cultural studies, linguistics, geography, history, sociology, and tourism research to foster transdisciplinary discussions and reflections on ongoing or completed research, theoretical questions and research methodologies. Moreover, it seeks to explore the multifaceted relationships between tourism, colonial heritage, the pursuit of decolonial practices and the (re-)production of authenticity in intercultural encounters. We welcome contributions (presentations or posters) from scholars, researchers, and practitioners at all career stages focusing on, but not limited to, the following themes:

  • Authenticity in touristified intercultural encounters

Tourists often seek authentic experiences, but these encounters are frequently staged, commodified, influenced by unequal power dynamics and an exploitation of cultural aspects. How is authenticity constructed, performed, and contested in tourist interactions? What are the implications of these dynamics for cultural preservation, identity, and agency?

  • Colonial continuities in tourism

In both formerly colonized countries and former colonizing nations, tourism can serve as a medium through which colonial heritage is remembered, reinterpreted, or erased. How exactly do touristic products and practices such as city tours address – or obscure – colonial histories? How is the colonial heritage dealt with in the tourism sector?

  • (Re-)Presentation of people, cultures and languages in travel guides

Travel guides may play a pivotal role in shaping tourists’ perceptions of destinations and their inhabitants. They often reinforce stereotypes or promote a limited version of history. How exactly do particular travel guides shape perceptions of authenticity and otherness? What is the role of local languages and indigenous knowledge in decolonizing tourism discourse?

Submission

We welcome abstracts (1 page) for 30-minute presentations as well as submissions for the poster session. The conference language is English – a restriction we acknowledge as problematic, given English's dominance in global knowledge production. Therefore, submissions in other languages (Spanish, German, French, etc.) are nonetheless welcome. We will do our best to ensure mutual understanding, asking participants to accept possible minor inconveniences due to e.g. mixed-language sessions.

Submissions should be double-spaced, 12-point font, and should not exceed 500 words, excluding bibliography and tables. They should include: 

  • Title of the presentation
  • Author’s name, affiliation, and contact information
  • 5 keywords
  • Outline of the theoretical framework and methodology
  • A short explanation of how the paper is relevant to the conference theme 
  • Bibliography of works cited in the submission
  • Information whether the submission should be considered for a presentation, a poster or both

Please submit your abstract as one PDF file to tourism-watch(at)ecpat.de by December 15th 2026. 

Notifications of acceptance will be sent by January 11th 2027.

Keynote speakers

1. Aline Bispo
Tourismologist and Business Administrator
Specialist in Teaching in Professional and Technological Education
MBA in Business Management
PhD and MA in State and Society
Collaborator at Alba Sud – Tourism Research Centre
Member of Rede BATUC – Community-Based Tourism Network of Bahia

“Reclaiming Narratives, Strengthening Community Agency: Community-Based Tourism as a Practice of Resistance in Bahia, Brazil”

2. Dr. Emmanuel Akwasi Adu-Ampong
Associate Professor in Cultural Geography
Co-Editor-in-Chief: Tourism Planning and Development Journal
Cultural Geography Research Group (GEO), Wageningen University & Research

title t.b.a.

Sattelite events

Registration

Registration opens December 1, 2026

Registration fees

By January 31st 2027: 75€ / Solidarity Fee: 50€ (upon request including short reasoning to tourism-watch(at)ecpat.de )

By February 15th 2027: 90€ / Solidarity Fee: 50€ (upon request including short reasoning to tourism-watch(at)ecpat.de )

Registration form

Registration form

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Contact information

For inquiries regarding submissions, registration, or general information, please contact: tourism-watch(at)ecpat.de. We look forward to your contributions and to welcoming you to the discussion on the future of tourism.