DOKUZ EYLÜL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF TOURISM and SCHOOL OF APPLIED SCIENCES

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON TOURISM AND WELL-BEING

16 April 2025, Online

Esteemed scholars and researchers,

We are pleased to invite you to the International Symposium on Tourism and Well-being hosted by Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Tourism and the School of Applied Sciences on 16 April 2025.

Tourism and well-being are increasingly interconnected in today’s world, as travel experiences are recognized for their potential to enhance physical, mental, and emotional health. Engaging in tourism activities such as exploring nature, participating in wellness retreats, or simply escaping the daily grind can offer individuals a chance to rejuvenate and recharge. These experiences often promote relaxation, stress relief, and personal growth, contributing to a more balanced and fulfilling life. Tourism in natural settings, for instance, can have therapeutic effects, with studies showing that exposure to green spaces can reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve overall mood.

Moreover, the well-being aspect of tourism has led to the rise of niche travel experiences focused specifically on health, such as spa tourism, yoga retreats, and eco-tourism. These forms of travel emphasize both mental and physical health, providing travelers with opportunities to focus on self-care and mindfulness. As people become more conscious of their well-being, many are seeking destinations and experiences that prioritize their health and wellness. This growing trend not only benefits individuals by enhancing their well-being but also supports local economies and communities that cater to these needs, further strengthening the connection between tourism and well-being.

In this symposium, we have five distinguished speakers from different parts of the world who will each share their insights on different aspects of this topic. Our speakers are experts in their respective fields, and who provide us with new perspectives that will inspire us all.

This Symposium is open to all. Participation is free of charge. The Symposium will be hosted online (via Zoom). The Zoom link will be announced via our official social media accounts. Please follow our social accounts for further updates.

Distinguished Guest Speakers

Jean-Pierre Beelen is a Certified Happiness Trainer, Coach and Chief Wellbeing Officer. He holds more than 30 years of experience in the field of business development, pre-sales and innovation working in roles like Principal Consultant, and Managing Consultant as well as in education.
He has a Bachelor in Economics, a Master in Global Digital Business, a Post Graduate in Innovation & Strategy and on May 7^th he will receive a Master in Happiness Studies. After more than 35 years in business in different industries he is now fully dedicating his life to sharing his knowledge and expertise with students. He thrives on happy people. How can you use your talent, orientation and character within an personal as well as organizational context is his main drive to get the most out of you. He has always been driven by the purpose of an organization, a customer, an individual. What is the ultimate life goal? And how can you keep a balance between your study, your work environment and your private life.

Ms. Susanna Saari is a Senior Lecturer in the BA, Tourism and Wellness Business program at Turku University of Applied Sciences (Turku UAS), Finland, where she has been teaching since 1998. She holds a Master of Social Sciences in Leisure and Recreation Studies and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Lapland, specializing in urban wellness tourism. Susanna has led two EU-funded RDI projects on health tourism and represents Turku UAS at the Turku Tourism Academy. She is also an active member of The Finnish Society for Tourism Research. On an international level, Susanna served as the World President of SKÅL International in 2018, the world’s largest not-for-profit tourism organization. Additionally, she was a board member of “The Code” (The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism) from 2016 to 2019.

Soraia Garcês is an Assistant Professor at the University of Madeira (Portugal), holding a BSc in Psychology, MSc in Educational Psychology, and a PhD in Psychology from the same institution. Her research interests include positive tourism, wellbeing, education, creativity, and psychological assessment. She is an integrated member at the Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs) of the University of Algarve and a collaborator at OSEAN – Outermost Regions Sustainable Ecosystem for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research Group from University of Madeira. She has participated in international projects, authored scientific articles and book chapters, supervised thesis students, and served as a guest editor and reviewer for journals.

Yılmaz Akgündüz, PhD, is a professor at the department of gastronomy and culinary arts at the DEU, Türkiye. His research focuses on the organizational behavior field, especially the interaction between managers and employees at tourism businesses. His research has published at leading tourism journals including International Journal of Hospitality Management, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Services Industries Journal, Tourism Review, Current Issues in Tourism, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management.

Permanent State Councilor and Chairman of the Eighth Section of the State Council. Master of Laws by the University of Virginia (USA). Certified Environmental Manager by the School of Business Administration, Bentley College (USA, 1999). Until June 2006, he has been UNESCO Full Professor of Planning and Environment at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; Professor at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California, at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law of the College of William and Mary (Virginia, USA) and at Harvard Law School (Massachusetts, USA).

Program

Please click HERE to reach the detailed program.

Contact Information

For further information, do not hesitate to contact turizmfakultesi@deu.edu.tr & uby@deu.edu.tr