NEWSLETTER #40-May 2026 CINTURS.
NEWSLETTER #40-May 2026 CINTURS.
The Doctoral Research Forum at THE INC 2026 offers doctoral researchers at any stage a dedicated space to present their work, receive experts’ feedback, and refine their research ideas in a supportive, international environment. More than a presentation, the Doctoral Research Forum is about moving your research forward! Learn more and register at THE INC website.
CinTurs researchers are leading an international collaborative project within the SEA-EU (European University of the Seas alliance), entitled “Beyond the Scenic View: Reimagining Destination Transformation through Eudaimonic and Hedonic Tourism Consumption for Inclusive Well-being”. The project, coordinated by CinTurs researcher Nelson Matos, is also led by CinTurs researchers Bernardete Sequeira and Ana Bender, alongside Miguel Ángel Sánchez Jiménez from the University of Cádiz. Drawing on the concept of Destination Transformation, the initiative explores how tourist destinations can go beyond scenic beauty to generate more inclusive, meaningful, and transformative experiences. This project examines how experiences can combine immediate pleasure and enjoyment with personal growth, reflection, and well-being. It challenges destinations to rethink tourism not merely as the consumption of places but as an opportunity to create human, social, and territorial value
A delegation from the
University of Algarve participated in the Blended Intensive Programme
(BIP) “Managing Urban Tourism: Planning and Monitoring for
Sustainability”, held at the University of Split from
20 to 24 April 2026. The group included CinTurs researchers Cláudia
Ribeiro de Almeida and Dora Agapito, alongside students from tourism
programs, in a multicultural learning environment bringing together
participants from several European institutions.
This programme combined academic sessions with practical activities
centred on key challenges in urban tourism: planning, monitoring, and
sustainable destination development. Both researchers actively
contributed by delivering modules on tourism product development,
while a field visit to Split's historic centre offered participants the
opportunity to analyse tourism dynamics on-site and reflect on the
critical role of stakeholder collaboration in sustainable destination
management.
A new study, published in the Annals of Tourism Research and co-authored by CinTurs integrated researcher Scott Cohen, examines how digital platforms are transforming sexual experiences in tourism contexts. Introducing the concept of "cyber-sexual leisure", the paper draws on interviews with queer male tourists to analyse emotionally complex, digitally mediated erotic interactions, particularly through platforms such as Grindr, proposing a new framework that extends the understanding of sexual experience in tourism beyond physical encounters. This research highlights how tourism-specific conditions, such as mobility, anonymity, and compressed time, intensify these digital dynamics while also surfacing intersecting inequalities related to visibility, desirability, and vulnerability. The full article is freely available here.
The TECH4SSTE project (Technology for Sustainable and Seamless Travel Experiences) has been approved under Portugal 2030's SIID business R&D incentive scheme. Led by Geoflicks in co-promotion with OSB Solutions and the University of Algarve, the project aims to digitalise and strengthen the sustainability of tourism in the Algarve, with a particular focus on micro-enterprises operating in low-density territories. CinTurs contributes to the scientific support through researchers Célia Ramos (CinTurs Co-coordinator), by integrating Manuel Serra (CinTurs, CiTUR & ESGHT), Nelson Matos (CinTurs & FEUAlg), and Cláudia Almeida (CinTurs & ESGHT), alongside Carlos Sousa (CiTUR & ESGHT), João Rodrigues (ISE & Nova LINCS), and Pedro Cardoso (ISE & Nova LINCS). The project will enhance the GEOTRAVEL.tech platform by integrating artificial intelligence, collaborative marketing tools, and adaptive management solutions. By addressing the environmental, economic, and sociocultural dimensions of sustainability, TECH4SSTE contributes to positioning the Algarve as a smarter, more inclusive tourism destination, reflecting CinTurs' ongoing commitment to applied research in close collaboration with the tourism industry.
CinTurs researcher Miguel Puig Cabrera has been awarded the Best Research Work Award for April 2026 by the Facultad de Turismo y Finanzas of the University of Seville. The distinction recognises the article “Material flow analysis of food waste in hotel food systems: An empirically grounded critical assessment", published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management, co-authored with Liang Q. and Esquinas E. B. The study provides a critical assessment of food waste flows in hotel operations, integrating perspectives from the circular economy, sustainability, and operational management. Grounded in empirical evidence collected in real hospitality settings, the research identifies systemic inefficiencies and proposes actionable strategies for more sustainable hospitality models, reflecting CinTurs' commitment to applied, industry-engaged research. Congratulations to all authors on this recognition!
All five SEA-EU PhD Scholarships awarded to doctoral candidates from the PhD Programmes in Sociology, Tourism, and Economic and Management Sciences offered by the Faculty of Economics of the University of Algarve are supervised by integrated members of CinTurs. A result that highlights the centre's supervisory strength and its ability to guide candidates to competitive international funding. The PhD students are Alyssa Janssens-Theunis (supervised by José de São José and Milene Lança), Ana Castro and Ângela Lopes (both supervised by Hugo Pinto), Sofia Soeiro (supervised by Manuela Guerreiro), and Carla Palma (supervised by Manuela Guerreiro and Ana Cláudia Campos). Several of these projects are developed in partnership with SEA-EU member universities, including the University of NORD, the University of Split, and the University of Naples Parthenope, reinforcing CinTurs' role as a driving force behind doctoral research within the alliance. Congratulations to all doctoral students and supervisors on this well-deserved recognition!
On May 9, the University of Algarve hosted the third edition of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT-UAlg) competition, bringing together 18 selected doctoral candidates to present their research in just 3 minutes before an interdisciplinary jury. CinTurs congratulates its six finalist doctoral students (left to right): Ângela Lopes, Kwo Fung Shek (William), Luzia Júlio Barros, Vivian Iacob, Luís Agostinho, and Raquel Branco. Special recognition goes to William Shek and Vivien Iacob, awarded Honourable Mentions, granted for the first time in the competition's history at UAlg, for their presentations "Telling stories with 'senses': exploring tourism experience design through sensory storytelling" and "Beyond the Destination: Mindfulness and Well-being in Tourism", respectively. Congratulations to all participants for this outstanding representation of CinTurs!
In May, the CinTurs PhD Network hosted two practical workshops led by Marlene Fernandes (CinTurs Secretariat), designed to support doctoral researchers in key academic communication skills. On 6 May, "Tips and Tricks: How to Create Your Poster in PowerPoint" guided participants through designing professional academic posters, covering layout, content organization, and logo placement. On 20 May, "Tips and Tricks: Improve Your Conference Presentation!" addressed key guidelines for creating visually effective and well-structured conference presentations, including the use of colours, typography, and graphics. Both sessions took place online via Microsoft Teams at 17:30 (Lisbon time), with free participation upon registration.