The University of Algarve (UAlg) will host, between the 15th and 17th of October 2025, the 10th Conference of the International Network for Research in Sport and Tourism (IRNIST), under the theme “Sustainable Governance and Destination Management”. The event will take place at the José Silvestre Amphitheater, at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia (ISE), on the Penha Campus, in Faro.
Organized by the Escola Superior de Educação e Comunicação (ESEC), in partnership with the International Research Network in Sport Tourism (IRNIST) and the Center for Research in Tourism, Sustainability and Wellbeing (CinTurs), the conference will bring together researchers and professionals from several countries, including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Chile and Portugal.
The meeting aims to promote debate around the most recent trends and challenges that cross the areas of sport, tourism and sustainability, with emphasis on emblematic case studies, such as the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Topics such as the management and promotion of sporting events, nautical and adventure tourism, and the valorization of tourist destinations will also be addressed, with a special focus on the Algarve.
According to the University of Algarve, “the conference seeks to publicize and value research developed in Portugal and around the world, in addition to promoting young researchers, good practices and the identification of new opportunities for cooperation and funding”.
Internationally renowned guest speakers include Ralf Buckley (Griffith University, Australia), Sean Gammon (University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom), Derek Van Rheenen (University of California, Berkeley, USA), Mary-Ann Cooper V. (Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile) and Gayle McPherson (University of the West of Scotland, United Kingdom).
The opening session, scheduled for October 15th, will be attended by the Secretary of State for Sports, Pedro Dias.
During the three days of work, the program will include scientific sessions, social moments and cultural activities, among which the PhD Awards and initiatives at Vilamoura Marina stand out, promoting the sharing of experiences and networking between participants.
The holding of this important international event has the support of the Faro City Council, the Loulé City Council and the Lagos City Council, as well as the Algarve Tourism Region, the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth (IPDJ), the Network of Schools with Training in Sports of the Public Polytechnic Higher Education and several entities in the regional tourism sector.
UAlg emphasizes that “more than an academic event, the 10th Conference of the International Network for Research in Sport and Tourism reaffirms the role of the University of Algarve in the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge, promoting the connection between research, territory and innovation”.
The official program can be consulted at .
Article written based on the text prepared by Júlia Abreu, Mariana Spier and Yasmin Neres, undergraduate students in Communication Sciences.
Also read:
