This first t-FORUM Conference is dedicated to the objectives, means, and ways of transferring knowledge to and within tourism, with three main themes or areas for debate and action:

Intelligent Futures: t-Intelligence in Action. Tourism is deeply embedded in the fabric of contemporary society. As our civilization struggles to meet the global challenges of climate change, development and participatory governance, the industry needs an adaptive strategy contributing to global sustainability and progress. This will be highly dependent on intelligence, knowledge transfer, and actual innovation, as well as on an accurate outlook of likely impending future scenarios. Hence, beyond the usual theoretical perspectives sourced in growing quantitative figures for tourism, it is essential to consider more ample qualitative scenarios to address innovation and change efforts. In these, more realistic, optional frameworks for action, the use of energy and physical capital is bounded by priorities of natural, human, and institutional capital. The challenge is to depart from the pervasive “business as usual scenarios” in tourism and instead explore what transfers of knowledge to and within tourism can uplift future landscapes. Papers are favored expanding sub-themes and issues in this area.

Science and Technological Innovation: t-Applications. Tourism has already become an essential component of contemporary life in a growing number of countries worldwide. However, too often for an activity that makes an intensive use of natural resources and energy, tourism has paid little consideration to matters of efficiency and sustainability. While many modern industries are built on continuous innovation, tourism has evolved with surprisingly few links to the body of science and technology already in place. This body, when applied, is often adopted  in a mere reactive manner, not proactive. This is untenable. Tourism has no choice but to increasingly compete with other industries for the use of scarce resources, and for the preferences of quality, price, and sustainability aware citizens. Science-led technological innovation will have to play a growing role in tourism. Case analysis, sub-theme proposals, and policymaking studies, promoting transfer of knowledge in tourism, are welcomed in this theme.

t-Intelligence in Governance: Proposals and Cases. Tourism has been often portrayed as a harbinger of development, but the case is far from being documented in practice. Many investments in tourism have simply implied a mimetic repetition of a few business models. Like other endeavors, tourism can move forward if intelligent governance and policies are in place to uplift performance. It is now becoming increasingly evident that assumptions about the effects of tourism must be re-examined in the light of advanced knowledge, and reformulated accordingly. Technological innovation is frequently a necessary but not sufficient condition for tourism activities to achieve efficiency and quality. Subtle kinds of innovation in goal-setting, policies, and procedures are essential in contemporary tourism. Many lessons can be learned from innovating destinations and businesses showing how intelligent governance can lead tourism to a new level, in a framework responding to the needs of the host community, tourism operators, and their customers. This is a key theme, with papers showing how knowledge and learned lessons can be transferred to all layers of tourism strategy and operations.