The main topics addressed by the research team are: Consumer Behavior; Tourism Economics; Choice/Decision Models; Risk and uncertain Behaviors; Shrinking Cities; Quality of Life; Public Policies; Fisheries Economics; International Environmental Agreements; Tourism and the Environment.
The group has been publishing a significant number of peer-reviewed journals. Also, the group sits on editorial boards and as a reviewer in most of the journals in the field. Furthermore, the group has been organizing conferences and working as part of scientific committees nationally and internationally. The group also counts on a significant international network, whether as joint research, publications, keynote speakers, organization of events and conferences or Projects.
CIAC develops innovative research in the fields of artistic studies (visual arts, cinema, theatre) and cultural studies, communication and, more recently, literary studies (digital archives, critical digital editions), connecting the creation of platforms and the forms of communication of scientific knowledge in the designated areas. Since its inception, it has maintained an interdisciplinary character.
Tourism, Culture, Society and Language - It includes the cultural and historical dimensions, the sociological and anthropological approaches to tourism, and the ‘tourism products’ (e.g. culture and religion, heritage, literature, gastronomy and a broad range of the so-called ‘new’ forms of tourism). Ethics and social responsibility in tourism have now become consolidated research topics. Locally-lived language practices also play a major role in tourism and mobility practices.
Territory and Tourist Destinations - Focused on tourism policy tools adopted by local governments and their impact on local tourism development. It also includes transport networks and infrastructures.
e-Tourism - This includes applications for business management and tourist destinations. It also includes more specialized issues such as helping with risk management, local restaurants (e-menu) or local lodging (e-booking), the contribution of new types of economy, namely the sharing economy and its respective IT platforms.
Tourism, Hospitality and Restaurants - Includes human resource management and the effects of new technologies on innovation practices and on their relationship with human resources. Alongside hotel management, there are specific dimensions of gastronomy, culinary arts and food production that need to be flagged and to explore niches in the agro-food/food service/food industry sectors that have the potential to generate new innovative products and services underpinned by a health and safety perspective.
The Smart System Laboratory (SSLab) comprises three specialized units [https://smartsys.ualg.pt], namely:
Tourism Economics and Management - focused on development and capitalization of tourism economics decision support systems for public policy and business planning; efficient management accounting systems; tourism contributions to the circular economy; strategic and operational marketing instruments for business and destination competitiveness.