Cities and municipalities are particularly challenged in times of the commodification of public goods and the touristification of city centres, be it through rising rents and urban heat or the density of visitor flows. Issues of social inequality, the right to the city and inclusive urban planning are just as challenging as the regulation of tourist uses. In particular, overtourism leads to neighbourhoods being used only by short-term residents, leaving no one to look after the local community. Who cares about the city and how is one leading question in this context. We invite participants to address these and related issues in their contributions.

Urban experiments are generally seen as a substantial contribution to sustainability transitions. They are meant to promote learning-by-doing under circumstances of insecurity and complexity and to accelerate transformations by testing agile, ad-hoc solutions for change. Hence, scientific debate and practical examples of urban sustainability experiments have blossomed in the past decade. However, motives of pursuing an experimentalist approach to the city have recently been criticized for mostly following an ecomodernist imaginary. In such logics, experimentation is inextricably linked with technology and the obective of pursuing sustainable transformations is to enhance efficiency and optimize systems. Societal change and alternative imaginaries of the future have only recently been discussed more intensely in the context of urban sustainability experiments. This session invites contributions that go beyond ecomodernist conceptions of experimentation and instead promote alternative perspectives on urban experimentation as contributions to transformative change. Examples include (but are not limited to): - Experimenting with care and the city - Experimentation as self-empowerment - Experiments with/for alternative imaginaries - Experimentation as bottom-up transformation - Social innovation in/through experiments - Experiments and social learning - Experimenting for post-growth cities and societies - Experiments and Urban Commons

Although in the past decades, social justice, equity and vulnerability became more prominent in managing social and ecological transformations in cities, citizens ‘perspectives are rarely considered in planning, development and research processes. Even though social justice research often aims to shed light on the perspectives or experiences of individuals who experience marginalization or discrimination. Because caring for the city include caring for the people in cities, their needs and preferences. In this panel, we want to highlight the socio-cultural impacts, the needs of all social groups in cities, with special attention to vulnerable and marginalized groups. • Who are such vulnerable, marginalized groups (in and for a city) in the context of urban and tourism development? • Who can participate in decision-making processes in urban planning? • What sustainable strategies of participation exist in urban and tourism development? • How can we improve justice in strategic planning processes within the development and implementation of urban policies? • How is the Right to the City debate currently manifesting itself in protest movements? • Which experiences and perceptions have vulnerable groups in the context of urban development? • In which ways we can look as planners, researchers and practitioners at balanced on both – social and ecological – benefits? • How can we improve justice in strategic planning processes within the development and implementation of climate policies? • Who benefits and who is harmed by overtourism? We look forward to contributions from scientists, activists, students and practices. We are calling for abstracts (in German or in English, max. one page) that address citizens in the city, explore, represent or at least consider their perspectives. If you want to discuss this with us in a bilingual panel from a social science perspective, submit your abstract via Conftool.

Against the backdrop of contemporary challenges in facilitating sustainable urban (tourism) futures, the session "How Tourism is Transforming the Urban Fabric" invites cutting-edge research that explores facets of the multifaceted relationship between tourism and urban development. Moving beyond well-established narratives of touristification and tourism gentrification, it is particularly interested in perspectives that illuminate less explored aspects of tourism's role in shaping urban environments and/or reflect upon novel solutions for creating more liveable, equitable, and sustainable cities in the face of evolving tourism dynamics. We invite submissions from diverse fields, including tourism studies and management, urban planning/studies, geography, sociology, and anthropology that present original empirical findings, propose innovative theoretical frameworks, introduce novel methodological approaches, or elaborate upon creative policy interventions, with potential areas of interest including but not limited to: - Manifestations of urban tourism dynamics beyond conventional tourist zones or established “off the beaten path” destinations - Emerging tourism mobilities and their interactions with urban spaces and places - The role of tourism in shaping urban identities, imaginaries, and cultural landscapes - The impact of technological advances, e.g. in social media, AI as well as virtual and augmented reality technologies, on urban tourism experiences, dynamics, and management - Novel approaches to “measuring“, analysing and evaluating tourism's multi-faceted effects on cities and their communities - Fresh theoretical or empirical insights into the governance and politics of urban tourism and destination management - Emerging forms of tourism-driven social innovation, community empowerment, and “regenerative” place-making - Innovative strategies for leveraging tourism's potential to enhance urban environmental sustainability, e.g. city-wide circular economy initiatives.

The session examines the multifaceted impacts of tourism on urban environments, focusing on how touristification transforms cities' physical, social, and economic landscapes. Touristification, characterized by the proliferation of tourism-related activities and infrastructure, often reshapes urban neighborhoods, affecting local communities, housing markets, and public spaces. This session seeks to explore methodologies and indicators for measuring the extent and effects of touristification, such as changes in land use, demographic shifts, and socio-economic dynamics. By addressing challenges like over-tourism, gentrification, and the erosion of local identity, the session highlights the need for balanced approaches to urban tourism that respect local communities while fostering economic benefits. Contributions offering case studies, innovative measurement tools, and strategies for mitigating the negative impacts of touristification are encouraged. The session aims to foster a critical dialogue on how cities can manage urban tourism sustainably and equitably amidst growing global mobility.

Sustainable tourism development and regional resilience are central to addressing global challenges such as climate change, economic instability, or geopolitical disruptions. This panel will explore how rural destinations and cities can balance economic growth with environmental stewardship by promoting low-impact tourism, green infrastructure, and energy-efficient urban planning - also in the context of postgrowth and degrowth debates. The discussion will examine strategies to reduce emissions, conserve natural and cultural heritage, and enhance regional resilience including social cohesion and public value. Key topics will include fostering sustainable tourism practices, integrating eco-friendly technologies, and building resilient communities to ensure long-term vibrancy, social diversity and sustainability for future generations.

Im Rahmen des Round tables diskutieren Forschung, Verwaltung, Regionalpolitik über Herausforderungen & Lösungswege der nachhaltigen Regional- und Tourismusentwicklung. Mit Dr. Yvonne Franz, Universität Wien; Mag. Elisabeth Hirt, Österreichischer Städtebund; Markus Reiter, Bezirksvorsteher, 7.Bezirk; (TBA) Moderation: FH-Prof. Dr. Cornelia Dlabaja, Stiftungsprof. FHWien WKW During the round table, representatives from research, administration and regional politics will discuss challenges and solutions for sustainable regional and tourism development. With Dr Yvonne Franz, University of Vienna; Mag. Elisabeth Hirt, Austrian Association of Cities and Towns; Markus Reiter, District Mayor, 7th District; (TBA) Moderator: FH Prof. Dr Cornelia Dlabaja, Endowed Professor FHWien WKW