Welcome to the international Sustainable Tourism Conference gathering of leaders, researchers, practitioners and innovators at ICSTHM 2025 (International Conference on Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality Management). Under the theme Advancing Sustainable Tourism Conference Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Hospitality, the conference seeks to bring together a diverse community to explore how tourism and hospitality can evolve in a sustainable, equitable and resilient manner. Hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from May 22-23 2025, ICSTHM 2025 offers a hybrid experience—allowing participation both in-person and virtually. 

Why Attend

In a time when tourism and hospitality face unprecedented challenges—from climate change, over-tourism, shifting consumer expectations, to digital disruption and pandemic recovery—ICSTHM 2025 stands as a timely platform. By registering, you will engage with global thought-leaders, policymakers, industry executives and academic researchers who are actively shaping the future of sustainable tourism and responsible hospitality practices. The conference motto emphasises innovation, sustainability and long-term resilience. 

Key Objectives

ICSTHM 2025 aims to:

• Foster knowledge exchange—bringing together practitioners and scholars to share research, case studies and best-practices in sustainable tourism, hospitality management and related transformative technologies. 

• Enable networking & collaboration—offering a forum where professionals from more than 30 countries and 500+ attendees (as projected) will connect, collaborate and build partnerships. 

• Spotlight innovation & responsibility—highlighting how smart technologies, data analytics, responsible management and green hospitality practices can together transform destinations, operations and guest experiences. 

• Promote environmental, social and governance (ESG) outcomes—addressing how tourism and hospitality can align with sustainable development goals, community engagement, cultural preservation and climate responsiveness. 

Thematic Focus & Topics

“Making Tourism Better for Everyone” is the guiding theme of ICSTHM 2025. The conference invites submissions and discussions across topics such as:

• Sustainable tourism development (destination planning, community-based tourism, regenerative tourism) 

• Green hospitality practices (energy and resource efficiency in hotels, circular economy in hospitality operations) 

• Technology in tourism (smart destinations, artificial intelligence, IoT, data analytics applied to tourism & hospitality) Tourism, climate and society (resilience, adaptation, socio-economic dimensions, inclusive tourism) 

• Research and learning in tourism and hospitality: pedagogical innovation, education, capacity building and knowledge management. 

These broad areas reflect the conference’s interdisciplinary nature—bridging academia, industry, government and community interests.

Format & Participation Modes

ICSTHM 2025 offers a hybrid participation model—meaning you can join in-person in Kuala Lumpur (venue: Holiday Inn Express Kuala Lumpur City Centre) or participate virtually from anywhere in the world.  This flexibility allows greater accessibility and inclusivity. Whether you are presenting your research, sharing an industry case, or attending as a delegate, the programme is designed to accommodate various roles and interests.

Why This Matters Now

The tourism and hospitality sectors are at a critical juncture:

• With climate change intensifying and destinations grappling with overtourism, resource constraints and community tensions, sustainable models are not optional—they are essential.

• Digital disruption (from remote work travel trends, virtual experiences, contactless services) is reshaping guest expectations and operational models.

• Post-pandemic recovery demands innovation: health safety, resilience planning, dynamic workforce strategies and destination diversification.
  ICSTHM 2025 positions itself at this intersection—advancing both sustainable and responsible frameworks for tourism and hospitality practice and research.

Delegate Benefits

By attending ICSTHM 2025, you will:

• Gain access to high-level keynote speeches, parallel technical sessions, interactive panels and workshops revolving around current and emerging issues in sustainable tourism and hospitality. ICSTHM 2025+1

• Engage directly with global peer networks—academics, professionals, policy-makers and industry innovators—creating channels for future collaborative projects, publications and initiatives.

• Present your work (if you submit and are accepted) and have your research disseminated among an international audience, enhancing visibility and impact.

• Access a rich variety of perspectives: from destination managers to technology providers, from sustainability advocates to hospitality executives.

• Benefit from cross-sector learning—insights from both tourism and hospitality management, enabling you to apply integrated strategies in your domain.

Practical Information

• Dates: May 22-23 2025. 

• Venue: Holiday Inn Express, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Malaysia. ICSTHM 2025

• Registration: Early-bird opportunities for both physical and virtual passes. Full access to sessions, workshop materials, networking events and certificate of attendance. ICSTHM 2025

• Who should attend: Tourism & hospitality professionals, researchers & academics, policy-makers, students, NGOs, technology firms, and other stakeholders engaged in sustainable tourism and responsible hospitality. ICSTHM 2025

• Call for papers and topics: Submissions are welcomed across the thematic areas listed above; extended abstracts and full papers will go through review for presentation and potential publication opportunities. ICSTHM 2025+1

Tips for Maximising Your Participation

• Review the thematic topics and tailor your submission (if you are presenting) to align with the theme of sustainability and responsibility in tourism/hospitality.

• Engage actively—attend workshops, join networking sessions (both online and offline), ask questions, exchange ideas with peers and speakers.

• Use the hybrid format wisely—if virtual, ensure you test connectivity, prepare for time-zones; if in-person, arrive early, engage with visitors, explore Kuala Lumpur’s cultural context to enrich your conference experience.

• Plan follow-up: Make connections during the conference, set up post-conference calls, explore joint publication opportunities or collaborative research projects.

• Reflect on practical application: The conference emphasizes actionable, sustainable practices—think about how you can translate insights into your institution, destination, organisation or community.

The Bigger Picture—Legacy & Impact

ICSTHM 2025 isn’t just an event—it’s part of a broader movement to champion tourism and hospitality systems that are not only economically viable but socially responsible and environmentally sound. The approaches and strategies shared at this conference will shape how destinations manage growth, how hospitality businesses embed sustainability into operations, and how academics generate research that matters and creates change.

By participating, you become a part of that legacy. You contribute not just your own knowledge but join a collective effort to create a tourism and hospitality ecosystem that works for people, places, and the planet.

Final Invitation

We invite you to join us at ICSTHM 2025: Advancing Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Hospitality. Whether you are presenting your research, seeking industry insight, building new collaborations or simply looking to enhance your knowledge—this is an opportunity to engage with the future of tourism and hospitality.