The Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM) co-organised the 5th International Conference on Events – Making Waves in Africa: Exploring New Frontiers in Festivals and Events held in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference is hosted by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa, co-organised jointly by Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom, Rosen College of Hospitality Management of the University of Central Florida in the United States of America and Macao Institute for Tourism Studies, China. Due to travel restrictions worldwide related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference was held in hybrid mode attended by over 130 South African and international delegates online or physically. Delegates are from 19 different countries and regions around the world: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America and Macao SAR.
There were 17 presentations of research studies carried out by IFTM academics, including papers by undergraduate and postgraduate students in collaboration with the Institute’s faculty members. The topics presented by IFTM covered economic, social and environmental issues of a diverse range of events. In addition, Professor Leonardo Dioko of the IFTM Tourism Research Centre delivered a thought-provoking keynote speech titled ‘Spontaneous Events and Event Spontaneity’, receiving keen interest and lively discussions from the audience. A number of IFTM academics also served as members of the Scientific Committee and moderators of sessions at the conference.
President of IFTM Dr Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan sent her congratulatory address to the conference and highlighted the relevance of the event: “Although met with many challenges and numerous setbacks, the events sector is one of the fastest growing and increasingly important industries worldwide. It is therefore imperative that a dedicated conference on events is held periodically, bringing in world experts and specialists together to exchange ideas and latest research findings. I hope delegates will also find this conference opportune in sharing with each other best practices and lessons in responding to and recovering from the pandemic”. The involvement of IFTM in the conference is pivotal in the continued development and recognition of event management worldwide as one of the Institute’s specialisations. The Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism Event Management commenced in 2005 and receives applicants annually in both the English and Chinese programmes.
IFTM academic and Chair of the Scientific Committee Dr Ubaldino Couto added: “Not the first and will not be the last – hybrid conferences are extremely challenging to put together but at the same time opens new doors to many around the world previously unable to attend events due to work commitments and travel costs. Putting together the conference programme itself is an extremely challenging task as we had to arrange sessions over three days involving presenters across twenty time zones in addition to physical attendees in Cape Town as well as creating networking opportunities and social events for both online and in-person delegates, balancing what we can offer as a conference and meeting the needs and expectations of all parties. It is all worthwhile and very rewarding seeing that there are new friendships and research partnerships formed at the conference”.
Having fulfilled the strict requirements of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), an international conference held in at least three different locations, and each attended by more than 50 delegates, the International Conference on Events (ICE) has been recognised on the prestigious list of ICCA events since 2019 (ICCA Meeting ID 6030290, Event ID 202002893). IFTM is one of the co-founders and has been a co-organiser of the ICE events since its inception. IFTM will continue to work with an international team of academics to co-organise the next in Denver, Colorado, United States of America.
Conference website: www.makingwavesinevents.org. For any enquiries, please contact Dr Ubaldino Couto, dino@iftm.edu.mo.