The Ionian University Research Day was successfully held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the exhibition space of the Corfu Port Authority, as an open celebration of scientific knowledge, creativity, and innovation, aiming to showcase the rich and multidimensional research output of the University and strengthen its connection with society.
The Department of Tourism actively participated in the event, presenting the breadth and dynamism of its research activities.
In the “Young Scholars” session (oral presentations), PhD candidates of the Department presented their research:
- Nikolaos Banos presented the topic “Highlighting and Utilizing Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Marketing of Corfu as a Tourism Destination”.
- Vasiliki Fragkoudi presented the topic “Sustainable Management of Cultural Heritage and Its Interaction with Tourism Marketing: The Case of the Tobacco Warehouses of Kavala”.
- Angeliki Xythali presented the topic “The Role of Travelers in Promoting the Geopolitical Interests of Great Powers in Greece (Greece–Cyprus) during the 19th–20th Century”.
In the “Young Scholars” poster session, PhD candidates participated with the following presentations:
- Maria Savvinopoulou: “Entrepreneurship Development in Wine Tourism”.
- Antonios Korfiatis: “The Impact of Privatization on Airport Service Quality: Evidence from Greek Regional Airports”.
- Athanasios Papavlasopoulos: “Social Innovation in the Tourism Ecosystem: The Role of Social Enterprises in Enhancing Sustainable Tourism Development”.
During the session “Presentation of the Department of Tourism”, faculty members showcased contemporary research approaches and applications:
- Nikos Antonopoulos, Associate Professor, presented an educational application for the recognition and detection of fake news.
- Konstantinos Vogklis, Assistant Professor, presented the use of spatiotemporal Big Data for the sustainable development of tourism destinations, focusing on Corfu.
- Ioannis Poulios, Assistant Professor, presented the living cultural heritage of Vadnagar, India, through a comparative study with Elefsina.
- Miltiadis Botsis, Associate Professor and Deputy Head of the Department, presented the Department’s research activity in the field of tourism geopolitics.
At the same time, the Department of Tourism participated in an exhibition booth, with the active participation of members of the Department and the contribution and supervision of the Head of the Department, Professor Christina Beneki, presenting its research activity through posters and interactive applications and highlighting the connection between research and the contemporary needs of the tourism sector.
Visitors had the opportunity to explore innovative applications and research initiatives, enhancing interaction between the University and society.
Particular interest was attracted by the applications presented at the Department’s booth, including an educational application for children aged 9–12 focused on fake news detection in tourism, as well as an innovative, accessible and immersive adventure game. In addition, the Erasmus+ project “AI-Enabled Skill-Building for Tourism and Hospitality: Bridging the Industry–Academia Divide (BIAD)” was presented, aiming to bridge the gap between education and the labor market in the tourism and hospitality sector.
The participation of the Department of Tourism reaffirms its commitment to producing high-level scientific knowledge and to meaningfully linking research with the contemporary challenges and needs of the tourism sector.
