CFP: Tourism and Culture in Philosophical Perspective

The Institute of Philosophy, Zagreb, the Plato Society of Zagreb, and the City of Hvar

in cooperation with Hvar Heritage Museum and the Hegel Society of Zadar

invite submissions for the

International Symposium: 

Tourism and Culture in Philosophical Perspective

Hvar, October 14-17, 2019 

The conference examines philosophical issues related to tourism as a “profoundly human”[1]activity. From the spas and coastal resorts of the Ancient world to the religious pilgrimages of Medieval times, from the 19thcentury “Grand Tour”  to the commodification of secular travel by English enterpreneur Thomas Cook - travelling for health, pleasure, and the joy of discovery represents one of the most characteristic forms of human cultural behaviour and continues to grow in importance today. But while providing a significant source of revenue and employment for local and national economies and for international corporations the world over, its greater affordability and huge attraction has resulted in increasing problems. Mass tourism and overtourism have led to growing environmental, social, and political challenges, and discontent among local populations is on the rise  – resulting in some tourist attractions closing (Maya Bay, aka “the Beach”), limiting visitor numbers (Dubrovnik), or even requesting tourists not to come at all (Amsterdam). Meanwhile, a wide diversity of “niche” specialities, from agro- and ecotourism to extreme sport, medical, and even war and poverty tourism, are expanding tourism to a new range of destinations – and ever new variations continue to appear. 

The Manila Declaration on World Tourism of 1980 emphasized the role world tourism could play as “a vital force for world peace”, capable of providing the “moral and intellectual basis for international understanding and interdependence,” contributing to “establishment of a new international economic order,” and eliminating  “the widening economic gap between developed and developing countries”. The Declaration foresaw that “spiritual elements” would take precedence over technical and material ones in the practice of tourism, but this hardly seems to be the case. The proposed ideal of “total fulfilment” and “liberation” of human beings in a “spirit of respect” for their identity and dignity, and the aim of an ever increasing contribution to their education, seem further away than ever, while to think that tourism might serve to promote “equality of destiny of nations”, affirmation of the “originality of cultures” and “moral heritage of peoples” appears thoroughly utopian. 

In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declared freedom of movement and the right to leave and to return to a country, together with the right to rest and leisure, universal human rights (Article 13, 24). However, it is questionable whether the majority of human population is any closer to the enjoyment of those rights today. It is doubtful, too, whether tourism has moved us any closer to its “ultimate aim” of improving quality of life and creating better living conditions for all peoples. It is clearly not the case that every human being “has access to creative rest and holidays and enjoys the freedom to travel within the framework of free time and leisure.” 

Tourism thus reflects the fundamental division of humanity into advantaged and disadvantaged which has plagued our world from ancient times until today. More recently the phenomena of mass tourism and “overtourism” have brought the negative tendencies of the culture of tourism itself further into relief, as the balance continues to tip between sustainable numbers, and numbers which threaten the integrity of natural and cultural legacy and the life of the local communities. 

In the face of these urgent issues and challenges, the Institute of Philosophy, Zagreb and the Plato Society of Zagreb, in cooperation with the City of Hvar, Hvar Heritage Museum, and other civic and cultural institutions and businesses from the City of Hvar, as well as the Hegel Society of Zadar, propose to organize the International Symposium: 

Tourism & Culture in Philosophical Perspective

We aim to consider tourism from a philosophical and interdisciplinary standpoint, in cooperation with our hosts, the City of Hvar with its citizens, and its civic and cultural institutions, who in 2018 celebrated 150 years of organized tourism, and whose first-hand experience and insights into the relationship between the local community and the economy of tourism, between host and guest, as well as into pressing issues of overtourism, sustainability, and moral responsiblity will provide an invaluable contribution to our dialogue. 

Submission Guidelines

We invite abstracts of up to 500 words for papers which consider from a philosophical perspective or from an interdisciplinary standpoint topics dealing with the relationship of tourism and culture in today’s world. These may include, but are not limited to, the following thematic clusters:

• The Human being as Tourist - Epistemological, Psychological, Anthropological and Sociopolitical Aspects of Tourism
• Leisure, Time, Place – Physicality and Metaphysical Aspects of Tourism
• Responsibility, Sustainability, Accountability – Moral and Ethical Aspects of Tourism
• Beauty, Identity, Community, Legacy – Aesthetic and Cultural Aspects of Tourism
• Tourism and Education – Ascent from the Cave?

Speakers will be allotted ca. 45-50 minutes for presenting, including 10-15 minutes discussion.

Authors are kindly requested to have their papers available for distribution at the conference.

Deadline for submission of abstracts is June 1, 2019. 

Authors will be notified of acceptance by July 1, 2019

A poster session for graduate students is included in the conference program. Poster presenters will be allotted 25-30 minutes, including discussion, for presentation of their posters.

Abstracts for the poster session should be between 150 and 300 words in length. Please designate clearly that your submission is intended for the poster session.

Submissions may be made using the conference management system EasyChair and the submission web-page: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=tcpp2019

For instructions on how to submit via Easy Chair please consult the Easy Chair “How to submit” page at https://easychair.org/help/how_to_submit 

In case of difficulties using the EasyChair submission platform please contact Lise Zovko at [email protected]. You may also submit your abstract directly to this address.

Please include your affiliation and contact information.

Organisational committee

Dr. Marie-Élise Zovko, Institute of Philosophy; Prof. Dr. Filip Grgić, Leiter, Institute of Philosophy; Zagreb Doc. Dr. Nives Treščec; University of Zadar Prof. Dr. Jure Zovko, Institute of Philosophy; University of Zadar; MA Renate Kroschel, Freiburg i. Br.; MA Nives Tomasović, Curator, Hvar Heritage Museum

[1]Manila Declaration on World Tourism–  https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/unwtodeclarations.1980.6.4.1