Have you ever wondered how one academic conference is very much the same as another, the same format, the same presentations, the same welcome reception, the same gala dinner, sometimes even the same keynote speakers? Have you ever thought about how we are actually contributing to the conference and what we get out of those conferences? Have you felt that tourism conferences are increasingly becoming over-programmed, focusing on themes, content and publications?
This conference aims to exchange thoughts, share, and envision ways to humanise tourism academia, the tourism industry, government, and NGOs. Humanising means to put the "human" back in, to think, to reflect, to question, to be better. The end goal of this conference is for delegates to leave inspired by the respect for and responsibility towards the work we do, the people we impact and the ecological environment. We focus on these conference goals through reflexive and mindful discussions, care ethics, values, and spirituality, so that our work may be closer to bringing peace, happiness, a caring community, and reciprocity. We focus on productivity through a humanising process.
We created this space for all tourism academics and the industry to rethink, reinvigorate, reinvent, rediscover their values, spirituality, and purpose. We invite academics to use the gifts of our intellect and the wisdom of our hearts to engage in dialogues about how we can collectively transcend towards a more inclusive, caring, and hopeful academy.
The conference aims to be eco-friendly, vegetarian, alcohol-free and family-friendly. The conference also aims to be a GIVING conference, providing opportunities for academics to engage in service projects with the Bhutanese community, the gracious host destination.