Exploring Digital Innovation in Tourism: A Student-Organized Conference

On January 21, 2025, a student-organized conference titled The Power of Digital Platforms in Tourism took place at the Studentski Kampus in Ljubljana. This event was part of the course led by Assoc. Prof. Maja Turnšek, PhD, from the Faculty of Tourism at the University of Maribor.

The conference, designed and moderated by second-year master's students from the Tourism Destinations and Experiences programme, focused on exploring digital innovation and its impact on the tourism industry. As part of their coursework, the students selected and invited guest speakers with practical experience in digital transformation, offering insights into how digital platforms are shaping tourism today. The event highlighted the real-world applications of digital strategies in the sector and provided students with valuable learning opportunities.

The conference featured a variety of expert guest speakers who shared their knowledge and insights into digital platforms and innovation in tourism with the students. The speakers included:

• Tina Sračnjek, Slovenian Tourist Board
• Katarina Ceglar, Deputy Head, Tourism 4.0, Arctur
• Neža Čepon, Hotel Lev
• Matej Kalan and Jaka Vukovič, Co-founder and CEO, Forward d.o.o.
• Boštjan Horjak, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Sustainability Officer, Liberty International Adriatic DMC
• Dejan Ristič, Tourism Infrastructure Consultant, Visit Ljubljana
• Gregor Banič, Head of Marketing, Visit Ljubljana
• Lia Pozvek, Managing Director, Lok4cija

These experts generously shared their valuable knowledge on digital innovation and its applications within the tourism industry, offering students a deeper understanding of the field.

The conference was also part of the "Flexible Forms of Education: Green Transition and Tourism 5.0" project, aimed at fostering innovative and hands-on learning in the tourism field.