The Faculty of Organizational Studies "Eduka" participated in the prestigious 28th International Scientific Congress “Tourism and Hospitality Industry 2026 – Trends and Challenges”, held from May 27 to May 29, 2026, in Opatija.
This significant event, organized by the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management of the University of Rijeka, brought together distinguished researchers, professors, and experts in the fields of tourism, hospitality, management, and sustainable development.
During the official opening ceremony, the Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management at the University of Rijeka, Prof. Dr. Sc. Marko Perić, addressed the participants, welcoming them and emphasizing the importance of international scientific cooperation, knowledge exchange, and joint reflection on the future of tourism and hospitality. Following the introductory remarks, special attention was drawn to the plenary lecture by Prof. Sara Dolnicar from the University of Queensland, Australia, titled Habit–Effort–Enjoyment Theory and How It Can Be Leveraged to Make the Tourism Industry More Environmentally Sustainable. She spoke about how scientific insights can be applied to encourage more sustainable tourist behavior, emphasizing that the future of sustainable tourism depends not only on technology but also on understanding visitors’ habits, motivations, and behavior. In this way, the congress immediately opened space for important discussions on sustainability, innovation, and responsible development of the tourism industry.
In an international academic environment, FOS Eduka presented the scientific paper “The Effects of Digital Nudging on Crowding Avoidance Behavior,” authored by Prof. Dr. Tamara Gajić and Prof. Dr. Filip Đoković. The paper addresses the highly relevant topic of applying digital nudging in managing tourist behavior and reducing congestion in tourist destinations. In doing so, the Faculty once again demonstrated that its academic staff actively follow contemporary scientific trends and contribute to the development of innovative solutions in tourism.
The special significance of FOS Eduka’s participation in the Opatija congress lies in the further strengthening of cooperation with the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management of the University of Rijeka, one of the leading institutions in the region in the field of tourism and hospitality. During the congress, discussions were held on new opportunities for joint scientific research, international projects, exchange of professors and students, and co-authored publications. Opatija thus served not only as a venue for presenting scientific results but also as an important space for building new academic bridges.
FOS Eduka places special emphasis on developing partnerships with institutions that share the same values: quality, internationalization, applied research, and close connection between education and the needs of the modern economy. In this regard, cooperation with FMTU in Opatija represents an important strategic direction for further strengthening the Faculty’s international position. The congress opened additional opportunities for joint activities in the fields of tourism, hospitality, sustainable development, digital innovation, and destination management.
Participation in this event confirms that FOS Eduka is increasingly building its recognition in the regional and international academic space. At the same time, it demonstrates the Faculty’s clear commitment to contributing to the quality of higher education and the development of modern tourism and hospitality practices through science, cooperation, and international networking. The Opatija congress represents another important step toward stronger networking of FOS Eduka with leading faculties and researchers from Europe and the world.
Photographs are sourced from the official website of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Rijeka.
