The university teachers Dra. Elena Puiggròs from the Tourism Degree and Dr. Josep Maria Espinet from the Marketing Degree have attended the XXII Congress of the Spanish Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism (AECIT) “The new tourism: innovation, digitalization, sustainability and competitiveness” held in Ourense from 6 to 8 October.

The teachers presented 3 communications, some of them with other teachers from the centre and also with other universities:

• GENDER PERSPECTIVE IN TOURISM EDUCATION. CRITICAL REVIEW IN CATALONIA by Dr. Elena Puiggròs.
• THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS AND WEB RESOURCES ON THE CONSUMPTION PROCESS IN RESTAURANTS AFTER COVID19 CONFINEMENT IN RESTAURANTS by Dr. Gaspar Berbel, Dr. Joan Francesc Fondevila Gascón and Dr. Elena Puiggròs.
• TOURIST COMPETITIVENESS IN SPAIN AFTER COVID: ANALYSIS BY MARKET SEGMENTS by Lidia Andrades, Dr. Josep Mª Espinet, Antonio García and Enrique Torres.

The congress has been a success in terms of attendees and communications and has reinforced the importance of digitalisation, innovation and sustainability to improve the competitiveness of tourism companies and destinations, especially in the current environment of uncertainty due to the COVID, political instability in Eastern Europe and inflation.