The international conference “Smart and Sustainable Tourism: Impacts, Approaches and Solutions” took place on 5 December 2025 at the IUAV University of Venice. The event was organised within the framework of the Interreg Italy–Croatia Program, co-funded by the European Union, and developed under the ADRIJO ROUTES project.
The conference brought together experts, institutions, and stakeholders to explore innovative and sustainable approaches to tourism development, with a particular focus on impacts, governance models, and practical solutions for smarter and more sustainable destinations.
The event was organised with the support of the Venice Sustainability Capital Foundation, the Biennale della Sostenibilità, and the Northern Adriatic Sea Port System Authority (Ports of Venice and Chioggia).
Dr. Ioannis Pappas, GSTC Regional Director for Europe, was a keynote speaker in “Session I: Impacts – Viewing the world through the lens of tourism”. During the session, Dr. Pappas contributed an international perspective on tourism as a transformative sector, highlighting emerging trends and the important role of the GSTC Standards in guiding a more responsible, inclusive, and sustainable tourism industry.
“In the Mediterranean region, we see how destinations can advance only when they combine vision with robust assessment tools. Using the GSTC Destination Standard, local authorities and DMOs are able to evaluate governance, community engagement, cultural protection, and environmental management in a coherent and comparable way. The assessments we have conducted demonstrate that these tools do not stay on paper—they translate directly into stronger policies, smarter planning, and tangible improvements in sustainability performance.”, Dr Pappas said.
The “Session II: Approaches – Cities as laboratories of smart, innovative and sustainable tourism” examined how urban destinations are integrating sustainability, inclusion, technology, and participatory approaches into tourism governance and planning, with contributions from local and regional authorities and innovation agencies across Europe. And “Session III: Solutions” was presented by members of the Venice Sustainability Capital Foundation (VSF), who highlighted collaborative solutions that support smarter, more sustainable tourism.
