Join our Tourism Research Centre (TRC) Annual Symposium 2026, themed 'Social Justice in Tourism, Hospitality, Events and Leisure'.

This year's Symposium will take place on 4 June 2026 at Edinburgh Napier University's Craiglockhart Campus, featuring keynote presentations from:

• Prof Kate Dashper, Leeds Beckett University
• Prof Sandro Carnicelli, University of the West of Scotland

About the Symposium

This year’s TRC Symposium invites academics, practitioners and students to engage in critical dialogue on how tourism, hospitality, events and leisure can contribute to more just and equitable futures.

In a period of rapid global change, social justice has become central to public, political and academic debate. Issues such as inequality, exclusion, climate justice, gender and LGBTQ rights, and fair work continue to shape conversations across local, national and international contexts. Within tourism, hospitality, events and leisure, these debates have highlighted persistent power imbalances, unequal access, and the ethical responsibilities of organisations and destinations.

Research in these fields has explored social justice through lenses including gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, migration and refugee experiences, disability, social class, environmental justice and intersectionality. Yet there remains no single definition of social justice, nor agreement on how its principles should be enacted in practice. This Symposium provides a space to examine these complexities and consider how our sectors can challenge marginalisation and contribute to meaningful social change.

Themes and topics

We welcome contributions and discussions on themes including (but not limited to):

• Social justice, ethics and responsibility in tourism, hospitality and events
• Embedding social justice in tourism, events, leisure and hospitality education
• The right to leisure as a fundamental human right
• Community impacts, participation and empowerment
• Inequality, power and representation in destinations and organisations
• Race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and intersectionality
• Disability, accessibility and inclusive design
• Migration, labour, precarity and workers’ rights
• Environmental justice and sustainable futures
• Methodological and theoretical approaches to social justice research (e.g., creative, visual or participatory methods)

Engagement and networking opportunities

Alongside keynote talks and panel discussions, this event provides space for meaningful engagement and networking, enabling participants to connect with peers, share insights and spark new collaborations.

Registration

All are welcome to join this Symposium; advanced registration essential.

Register here >

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