NEWSLETTER #38 - March 2026
NEWSLETTER #38 - March 2026
CinTurs and the Algarve
Tourism Board (Região de Turismo do Algarve - RTA) have signed a
cooperation protocol during the BTL - Better Tourism Lisbon Travel
Market (Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa) to jointly develop
a Research and Innovation Agenda for Sustainable Tourism. This
strategic partnership strengthens collaboration between academic
research, the business sector, and public policy stakeholders,
supporting more informed decision-making grounded in scientific
knowledge
and evidence-based insights.
Aligned with key
sectoral challenges and broader societal transitions, including climate
action, digital transformation, and territorial cohesion, the agenda
positions the Algarve as a living laboratory for
sustainable tourism innovation.
CinTurs researcher Alexandra Gonçalves took office as Vice-President of CCDR Algarve (Education) on 2 March 2026. This appointment highlights the role of academic research in informing public policy and decision-making. With a professional background spanning higher education, academic governance, and cultural and territorial policies, she brings an integrated perspective on education, regional development, and sustainability. Her previous experience in senior public roles supports a comprehensive approach to the sustainable development of the Algarve.
CinTurs researcher João Filipe Marques delivered the opening keynote at the VI Jornadas Nacionais da Pastoral do Turismo, held on 13-14 February 2026 at the Santuário do Cristo Rei, Almada. He presented “The Sociology of Tourism as a Sociology of Happiness: An Exploratory Journey”, exploring the relationship between tourism and well-being within the broader discussion on sustainability. The event brought together academics and industry professionals to reflect on more human-centred tourism futures.
CinTurs is contributing to the Algarve Wellness & SPA Summit, taking place on 12-13 May at the University of Algarve, Gambelas Campus, as part of its collaboration with the ABC CoLAB – Ageing Better initiative. As a founding partner of this Collaborative Laboratory, recognised by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology since November 2022, CinTurs reinforces its commitment to research and innovation in ageing and wellness. This contribution underlines CinTurs’ role in supporting initiatives that promote wellness tourism and strengthen the Algarve’s tourism offer.
Raquel Branco, Coordinator of the CinTurs PhD Network, has published an opinion article entitled “O design que nos liga: entre o saber antigo e o pensar novo” in the Conta Lá platform. In this reflection, the author explores how design can function as a bridge between traditional knowledge and contemporary thinking, highlighting its role in connecting heritage, creativity, and innovation while inviting readers to consider how past knowledge can inspire new perspectives for the future.
CinTurs hosted two
online Master Webinars in March, featuring invited experts in tourism
and hospitality research. On 5 March, Professor Woody G. Kim (Florida
State University, USA) presented “Listening to Customers Through Research”
, focusing
on research-driven approaches to understanding customers and enhancing
research quality and impact. On 19 March, Professor Zahed Ghaderi
(Sultan Qaboos University, Oman) delivered “Critical Qualitative Inquiry in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)”
, addressing the influence of AI on qualitative research and highlighting the need for ethical, human-centered approaches.
The CinTurs PhD Network hosted the Workshop “Tips and Tricks: How to Format Your Manuscripts” on 4 March, at 17:30 (Lisbon time), as part of the PhD Net Talks series. The guest speaker for the session was Marlene Fernandes, member of the CinTurs secretariat, who provided practical guidance on key steps in manuscript preparation. This workshop addressed technical aspects such as structuring documents, managing page numbering and footnotes, defining paragraph styles, and generating automatic tables of contents, offering useful support for PhD students preparing academic manuscripts.