OBOROT 2026

Welcome to the 4th ONE BELT · ONE ROAD · ONE TOURISM International Conference

11-13 DECEMBER 2026 · CHIANG RAI · THAILAND

Call for Papers

Paper Submission

We invite you to submit your abstract, prepared according to the guidelines outlined in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Abstracts should be approximately 1,000 words, including references. Please include a separate cover page with the paper’s topic, author’s name, affiliation, contact number, and email address. Submit your abstract and cover page as an email attachment to Dr. Tony Tse at tony.tse@polyu.edu.hk. Kindly use “Submission of paper to OBOROT Conference” as the subject line of your email.

The extended deadline for abstract submission is 31 October 2026. Authors will be notified of the review decision—acceptance, rejection, or acceptance with revisions—by 7 November 2026. To ensure inclusion in the Conference proceedings, final abstracts or full papers must be submitted by 31 October 2026. Please note that once a submission is accepted, at least one author is required to register for and present the paper at the Conference. We look forward to your valuable contributions!

Enquiries

For more details about the Conference, please visit www.oborot2026.com or contact Asst. Prof. Dr. Athitaya Pathan at athitaya.pat@mfu.ac.th or Dr. Matej Balen at matej.bal@mfu.ac.th.

Accessible and inclusive tourism
Community-based tourism
Culinary tourism
Cultural tourism
Data analytics in tourism
Destination management
Digital transformation in tourism
Ecotourism and biodiversity conservation
Event management
Human capital development

The 4th One Belt One Road One Tourism International Conference invites paper submissions from scholars, researchers, industry practitioners, and government representatives in the fields of hospitality and tourism.

This exciting international event is jointly organized by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the School of Management at Mae Fah Luang University and will be held from 11 to 13 December 2026 in the captivating city of Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Theme and Topics

This year’s conference centers on the theme Development, Marketing, Sustainability. We warmly invite paper submissions addressing these areas, as well as other topics related to the Belt & Road Initiative. We welcome contributions that offer fresh insights, innovative perspectives, and practical implications for the advancement of tourism. Join us in shaping the future of tourism through research, dialogue, and collaboration at this dynamic international event.

Pro-poor tourism
Role of AI and robotics in tourism
Smart tourism
Tourism and geopolitics
Tourism education
Tourism marketing
Tourism planning and development
Tourism sustainability
Tourist needs and motivations
Wellness and health tourism

About OBOROT Conference

The “One Belt, One Road, One Tourism” (OBOROT) International Conference was established by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a platform for academics, researchers, and industry professionals to exchange knowledge, discuss emerging tourism trends, and strengthen international collaboration across Belt and Road countries. Inspired by the historical spirit of cultural exchange along the Silk Road, the conference promotes dialogue on tourism development, sustainability, education, and cross-cultural cooperation.

OBOROT 2018 – Palembang, Indonesia

The inaugural OBOROT Conference was held in Palembang, Indonesia, on 22-24 November 2018. Hosted by the Palembang Polytechnic of Tourism, the conference introduced the vision of strengthening tourism collaboration and regional development through academic exchange and international partnerships. The event brought together presenters from 11 countries and regions to discuss tourism, peace, cultural exchange, and sustainable economic growth across the Belt and Road region.

1st OBOROT

OBOROT 2019 – Guilin, PR China

The second OBOROT Conference took place in Guilin, China, on 13-15 October 2019, hosted by Guilin Tourism University. Under the theme “Development, Marketing and Sustainability,” the conference focused on tourism education, sustainable development, destination marketing, and international academic collaboration. The conference also resulted in the “One Belt One Road One Tourism Guilin Declaration,” emphasizing cooperation in tourism education, tourism economy, and cultural integration.

2nd OBOROT

OBOROT 2025 – Tashkent, Uzbekistan

The third OBOROT Conference was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on 24-27 June 2025, hosted by Central Asian University. As the first OBOROT conference in Central Asia, the event strengthened academic cooperation within the University Alliance of the Silk Road (UASR) Tourism Sub-Alliance. Scholars and researchers explored topics including smart tourism, cultural heritage, sustainability, destination development, and tourism innovation, while fostering new partnerships and international research collaboration across the region.

3rd OBOROT

Dr. Piyatida Pianluprasidh, Dean of School of Management, Mae Fah Luang University

★★★★★

It is my great pleasure, on behalf of the School of Management, Mae Fah Luang University, to welcome you to the 4th One Belt One Road One Tourism (OBOROT) International Conference 2026 in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

OBOROT has become an important platform for academics, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and discuss the future of tourism and hospitality across the Belt and Road regions.

Mae Fah Luang University is honored to host this year’s conference in Chiang Rai, a culturally rich destination located in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Thailand has historically served as a gateway connecting South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China through trade, cultural exchange, and travel along the broader Silk Road network. For centuries, the region has welcomed travelers, merchants, and communities from diverse cultural backgrounds, creating a rich heritage of hospitality, openness, and intercultural dialogue. Today, Thailand continues to play an important role in regional tourism cooperation, sustainable development, and international educational collaboration.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University for its leadership and continuous support of the OBOROT Conference series. We are also grateful to all keynote speakers, partner institutions, researchers, and participants for contributing their valuable knowledge and research to this international gathering.

I wish you a productive, inspiring, and memorable conference experience. Beyond the academic sessions, I warmly invite you to experience the unique culture, hospitality, cuisine, and natural beauty of Chiang Rai and Northern Thailand.

We look forward to welcoming you to Mae Fah Luang University in December 2026.

Professor Kaye Chon, Dean and Chair Professor, Walter & Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

★★★★★

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 4th One Belt One Road One Tourism (OBOROT) International Conference 2026.

Since its inception, the OBOROT Conference has developed into an important platform for advancing knowledge, promoting scholarly exchange, and strengthening international collaboration in tourism and hospitality. In a time marked by rapid transformation across the global tourism landscape—driven by digital innovation, sustainability priorities, changing traveler expectations, and geopolitical shifts—gatherings such as this are especially valuable.

The Belt and Road framework continues to open new possibilities for connectivity, partnership, and shared development across regions. Within this context, tourism holds a unique position as a catalyst for economic opportunity, cultural understanding, and people-to-people connection. By bringing together academic insight, industry experience, and policy perspectives, this conference contributes meaningfully to shaping a more resilient, innovative, and sustainable future for tourism.

On behalf of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the School of Management, Mae Fah Luang University, for co-hosting this year’s conference and for their valued partnership and dedication in making this event possible. We are deeply grateful for their collaboration and warm support in bringing OBOROT 2026 to Chiang Rai.

I look forward to a rewarding and inspiring conference, filled with meaningful discussions, new collaborations, and lasting connections among the academic community and tourism industry at large.