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Conference announcement and call for papers RESEARCHING DESTINATION MANAGEMENT, POLICY AND PLANNING: Linking culture, heritage and tourism Riga, Latvia: 24-25 September 2007 Jointly organised by: Centre for Tourism and Cultural Change Leeds Metropolitan University www.tourism-culture.com <http://www.tourism-culture.com/> Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia / Department of Tourism Development www.em.gov.lv <http://www.em.gov.lv/> European Union of Tourist Officers http://www.euto.org/ Culture(s) and heritage, both tangible and intangible are at the heart of the visitor experience of destinations. At the level of policy making and planning, the importance of destinations' unique and distinctive cultural attributes for the tourism sector is commonly articulated, at least rhetorically. The management of cultural and heritage assets for tourism is also a critical issue for destinations. However, working connections and collaboration between agencies and stakeholders in these domains are often weakly developed in practice. Inter-disciplinary research at the interface of the complex linkages between these sectors and professional interests has much to contribute to terms of critical, reflective debate on key issues affecting the relationships between culture, heritage and tourism at the destination level. Research in destination policy, planning and management also explores the competitive opportunities and pressures associated with the emergence of new and diverse international tourist markets. Such research makes a critical contribution in the development of creative and sustainable strategies for the culture, heritage and tourism sectors in destinations. The aim of this conference is to bring together researchers who share interests in destination policy, planning and management in relation to culture(s), heritage and tourism. These research areas are also clearly relevant to professionals in destination management and the conference will provide a unique opportunity for researchers to share leading edge ideas, innovations and critical thinking with the professional destination manager participants at the European Union of Tourist Officers (EUTO) Study Visit to Latvia which coincides with the conference. There will also be opportunities for delegates to participate in parts of the EUTO programme. Theoretical and applied issues and themes to be explored at this conference include: * Creative uses of cultural and heritage resources for tourism * Cultural events and festivals as animators of place * Transnational approaches to and conceptions of destination planning in urban and rural contexts * Community participation in destination development * Building sustainable partnerships and stakeholder relationships between tourism, culture and heritage in destinations * Managing cultural heritage and sensitive sites for tourism * Competitive advantage, new tourist markets and destinations * New and emerging technologies in destination representation and marketing * Destination image and branding If you wish to submit a paper proposal, please send a 300-word abstract with full address and institutional affiliation details as an electronic file to Dr. Philip Long ([log in to unmask]). The deadline for the reception of abstracts is 13 July 2007. Please find regularly updated information regarding this conference, registration procedures and (at a later stage) a full programme at our website www.tourism-culture.com. To view the terms under which this email is distributed, please go to http://disclaimer.leedsmet.ac.uk/email.htm