Aligning Low-Tech and High-Tech Innovations A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Sustainability of Territories and Destinations on November 10-13, 2025 in Marrakesh, Morocco

The MICTR-2025 – Marrakech International Conference on Tourism Research will take place from 10 to 13 November 2025 at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.

This edition focuses on the theme "Aligning Low-Tech and High-Tech Innovations: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Sustainability of Territories and Destinations". The conference explores how technological tools and community-based approaches can together foster sustainable development in tourism and territorial governance.

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). Lowtech 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.

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

Publication perspective of the papers

Two options to consider:

Formula A: Pre-conference publication, Research Paper as part of the "world sustainability series" by Springer "Indexed in Scopus"

 Formula B: Post-conference publication Special issue for the journal Études Caribéennes

Submission guidelines - Formula A: Pre-conference publication

Important Dates

(Pre-Conference Publication)

Submission of full papers: June 15, 2025

Notification of revisions to authors: July 15, 2025

Publication: November 2025

Authors are required to submit their chapters in Microsoft Word (.docx) format. The preferred font is Times New Roman, with the body text set to 12 pt, justified for readability. Each chapter should be between 6,000 and 8,000 words, including references, tables, and figures. Additionally, an abstract of 150-250 words must be provided, along with 4-6 relevant keywords to enhance searchability. All citations and references should follow the APA (7th edition) style or the specific guidelines required by the Springer series.

Submission guidelines - Formula B: Post-conference publication

Special issue for the journal Études Caribéennes

Important dates

(Post-conference publication)

Submission of extended abstract (between 500 and 1000 words): July 15, 2025

Notification of acceptance: July 30, 2025

Submission of a provisional version of the text: November 30, 2025

Notification of modifications to authors: December 20, 2025

Submission of the final version of the text: January 30, 2026

Publication of all extended abstract

All extended abstract will be published in the Abstract Book

Important dates: (Publication of all abstracts):

Submission of extended abstract (between 500 and 1000 words): July 15, 2025

Notification of acceptance: July 30, 2025

Submission of the final version of abstracts: September 30, 2025

Proposals for communication, written in either English or French, must include a title and an abstract of at least 500 words and no more than 1000 words. They should be accompanied by five keywords and formatted according to the following requirements: Times New Roman font, size 12, single spacing, and compliance with APA bibliographic standards.

Authors should indicate their primary institutional affiliation as well as their discipline. The abstract must explicitly present the research problem, along with the set of hypotheses or research questions addressed. It should also detail the methodological approach adopted, present the main results obtained, and provide a critical discussion of these findings.

Proposal submission

All communication proposals must be sent to the following contact address: [email protected]

Honorary Chair

Abdeljalil LOKRIFA, Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Said RAKRAK Dean de of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Mindaugas SAMUOLAITIS – Dean Alytus Faculty, Kauno Kolegija Higher Education Institution (Lithuania)

Shiwei SHEN – Dean of the Joint Institute of Ningbo and Angers Universities / SinoEuropean Institute of Tourism and Culture, Ningbo University (China)

Conference Chairs

Omar BENCHAREF – Faculty of Science and Technology, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Larbi SAFAA – Centre of Excellence Tourism and Hospitality Management, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Coordination Committee

Mohamed AIT TEJAN – University of Nantes, Marrakech-Safi Regional Hotel Industry Association

Youssef EL ARCHI – CiTUR, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (Portugal)

Khalid EL HOUSNI – Higher School of Technology of Essaouira, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Hicham SADDOU – Faculty of Law, Economics and Social Sciences – Kelâa des Sraghna, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Scientific Committee

Ahmet ATALAY – Ardahan University (Turkey)

François BÉDARD – School of Management Sciences, UQAM (Canada)

Jihane BENMASSOUD – Normal Superior School, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Brahim BENBBA – ENCGT, Abdelmalek Essaadi University (Morocco)

Marc BIDAN – Polytech Nantes, Nantes Université (France)

Said BOUJROUF – Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Management, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Lucília CARDOSO – CiTUR, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (Portugal)

Olivier DEHOORNE – University of the Antilles (France)

Mantas DILYS – Kauno Kolegija Higher Education Institution (Lithuania)

Tomáš GAJDOŠÍK – Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica (Slovakia)

Mohammed EL AKLAA – Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Youssef EL ARCHI – CiTUR, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (Portugal)

Khalid EL HOUSNI – Higher School of Technology of Essaouira, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Carla FRAGA – Federal University of Juiz de Fora (Brazil)

Fernando Martinez DE CARNERO CALZADA – Sapienza Università di Roma (Italy)

Stanislav IVANOV – Varna University of Management (Bulgaria)

Soulaimane KALOUN, Faculty of Science and Technology, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Mohamed Réda KHOMSI – School of Management Sciences, UQAM (Canada)

Luiz MOUTINHO – Suffolk University (United Kingdom)

Faysal Lemjidi – Faculty of Law, Economics and Social Sciences Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Afaf MOSAIF Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Dalia PERKUMIENĖ – Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania)

Maria Alzira PIMENTA DINIS – Fernando Pessoa University (Portugal)

Sara Qassimi – Faculty of Science and Technology, Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University. (Morocco)

Ali Rachid – Higher International Institute of Tourism of Tangier (Morocco)

Paulo ALMEIDA – CiTUR, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (Portugal)

Mindaugas SAMUOLAITIS – Kauno Kolegija Higher Education Institution (Lithuania)

Luís Lima SANTOS – CiTUR, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (Portugal)

Shiwei SHEN – Joint Institute of Ningbo and Angers Universities / Sino-European Institute of Tourism and Culture, Ningbo University (China)

Marios SOTIRIADIS – Joint Institute of Ningbo and Angers Universities (China)

Oumaima STITINI - ENS Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Inga STRAVINSKIENĖ – Kauno Kolegija Higher Education Institution (Lithuania)

Jessika WEBER-SABIL – Breda University of Applied Sciences, Academy for Tourism (Netherlands)

Mohamed ZNIBER – Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco)

Organizing Committee

PhD Students – Laboratory for Studies on Resources, Mobility, and Attractiveness (LERMA)

PhD Students – Computer Engineering and Information Systems Laboratory (L2IS)

Students – Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Management School

Registration and fees

Early Bird Rates (until September 15, 2025):

Full Rate: €340

PhD Student Rate: €130

Low-Income Countries:

A discounted rate of up to 50% will be available for participants from low-income countries and Moroccan scholars, upon presentation of appropriate justification. Please contact the organizing committee at [email protected] to verify your eligibility.

The Full Rate Includes:

Conference materials

Lunches and coffee breaks

Receptions and Gala dinner

Guided tour of Marrakech, its monuments, and the Atlas Mountains o Visit to the city of Essaouira

Catégories

Géographie (Catégorie principale)

Sociétés > Économie > Développement économique

Sociétés > Économie > Gestion

Sociétés > Géographie > Espace, société et territoire

Lieux

Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Cadi Ayyad University

Marrakech, Maroc