ICTIM 2026: Pioneering sustainable, smart, and wellness Tourism

The School of Languages and Tourism at Hanoi University of Industry organized the International Conference on Tourism Innovation and Management (ICTIM 2026) under the theme “Beyond Boundaries: The Future of Sustainable, Smart & Wellness Travel,” reaffirming its commitment to fostering innovation and promoting global knowledge exchange. The conference served as both an academic forum and a strategic platform, reflecting the School’s forward-looking vision in engaging with and shaping emerging trends in the tourism industry.

With the participation of nearly 200 scholars, experts, and industry practitioners from across Vietnam and abroad, the conference created a vibrant space for dialogue and interdisciplinary exchange. The breadth of perspectives showcased at ICTIM 2026 emphasized the growing importance of connecting academic insights with practical realities.

The International Conference on Tourism Innovation and Management (ICTIM 2026)

In the opening remarks, Dr. Dang Thi Minh Tam, Vice Dean of the Faculty of English Language, underscored a fundamental transformation in the tourism sector. She noted that tourism is evolving from a traditional service industry into an integrated ecosystem that combines technology, culture, and wellness. This transformation also aligns with the University’s educational orientation, which emphasizes not only professional competence but also adaptability to global trends and sensitivity to human-centered values.

Dr. Dang Thi Minh Tam, Vice Dean of the Faculty of English Language, School of Languages and Tourism, delivered the opening address

The conference presentations addressed key issues shaping contemporary tourism, offering forward-looking perspectives:

The convergence of heritage and the future: Discussions highlighted efforts to bridge the gap between academic training and the digital marketplace, alongside initiatives to integrate traditional values such as Sivananda Yoga into high-end hospitality services. These insights underscore a clear direction in which technology functions as an enabler, while authentic experiences and refined care remain at the core of value creation.

Speakers delivered the presentations at the conference

Happiness as a new metric in tourism: Proposals to reposition destinations based on wellness and well-being introduced a paradigm shift in tourism thinking. Travel is no longer viewed merely as consumption but as a process of renewal, where individuals reconnect with themselves through experiences such as forest bathing and wellness tourism.

The era of transparency: Research on the growing influence of online review platforms revealed rapidly evolving customer behaviors, requiring businesses to continuously innovate while building trust through authenticity and transparency.

Speakers exchanged ideas and shared insights during the conference

ICTIM 2026 went beyond the framework of a typical annual conference, sending a clear strategic message from the School of Languages and Tourism and Hanoi University of Industry. The event highlighted a commitment to fostering an open academic environment where students and faculty engage with leading global perspectives, while strengthening links with industry to ensure research translates into practical, sustainable outcomes.

The vision of sustainable, smart, and wellness-focused tourism continues to resonate, with the ideas and insights generated poised to inspire real-world initiatives, inform policy development, and shape the next stage of growth for the tourism industry in an increasingly interconnected and dynamic world.