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Tourism is entering a decade in which it will no longer be enough to count arrivals, overnight stays and records. The question that arises is how to create greater value for destinations, local communities, the economy and travellers. This is exactly why TOURISM 365 will gather tourism leaders, experts, companies, destinations and participants from over 30 countries in Zagreb from 5 to 7 October 2026 for the jubilee 10th edition of the conference.
Alongside strategic discussions, international speakers, B2B meetings and new formats, the jubilee edition also brings the first T365 Excellence Awards – international professional recognitions for those who are already showing what the year-round, sustainable and high-value tourism of the future looks like.
Ten years of connecting ideas and developing the tourism of the future
Over the past decade, TOURISM 365 has built an internationally recognisable platform for connecting tourism leaders, destinations, institutions, companies and experts. Previous editions gathered more than 1,000 participants from over 30 countries and three continents each year.
The jubilee edition opens the key question: how to shape the next decade of year-round, sustainable and high-value tourism? Through strategic discussions, international speakers, examples of good practice and business networking, TOURISM 365 brings new perspectives, concrete ideas and opportunities for the development of the tourism sector.
The programme includes the Strategic Conference, Ministerial Forum, National Tourism Directors Dialogue, Smart Tourism Meet Up, educational workshops, networking activities and a series of special features dedicated to the future of the tourism offer, markets, technology, sustainability and new experiences.
International speakers and themes shaping the next decade of tourism
"Changes in trends and the tourism market are so fast that no one has all the answers. That is exactly why it is important to be in conversation with people coming from different markets, sectors and perspectives. TOURISM 365 is an opportunity to hear what is changing, meet relevant people, see new examples, open business opportunities and be part of the conversation about the direction in which tourism is developing," points out Ivana Kolar, the organiser of the conference.
This year's jubilee edition of the conference brings some of the most interesting names of the international tourism scene to the Zagreb stage. For the first time in Croatia, the audience will have the opportunity to hear Simon Calder live, one of the most famous and influential British travel journalists and commentators, whose insights on travel, aviation, passenger behaviour and market changes have been shaping the public conversation about tourism for decades.
Alessandra Priante is also coming to Zagreb, today the vice-president of SIGA Europe, and until recently the president of the Italian national tourist board, one of the prominent European experts for the future of tourism, destination competitiveness and international cooperation.
Special attention will also be drawn by Chris Alestra, vice-president of Signature Travel Network, one of the largest and most influential American networks of travel agencies in the premium segment, who will bring valuable insight into the American market and the expectations of high-value travellers.
Among the speakers are also Ahmed AlOraij, president of the Saudi Health Tourism Association and one of the leading international experts for health and medical tourism, Myriam Younes, marketing director at Rome2Rio, Evelina Hederer, director of business development at Expedia Group Advertising, and the exceptional Rajan Datar, travel journalist, editor and one of the recognisable BBC faces in the field of travel.
Ged Brown, director of Low Season Traveller, whose last year's presentation was requested by participants long after the end of the programme, is also returning to the conference, and Raja Saggi is coming too, the man who created and led Google Business Marketing and one of the speakers who brings rare experience of global technological, marketing and business development.
Alongside them, the programme also brings a series of other strong domestic and international names, among which are Peter E. Pincus/CCRA, Dominik Černjak/TZS, Jasnoor Kaur/SonsAI, Finola Daley-Dee/Nola Comm, Siniša Topalović/Horwath HTL, Davor Bruketa/Bruketa&, Petar Pavić/STAR Digital, Dario Marčac/CREW and numerous others.
An opportunity for new international partnerships, an award ceremony and a student hackathon
As part of the conference, the T365 B2B Marketplace will also be held, organised in cooperation with the partner New Deal Europe. This segment connects tourism companies, destinations, hotels, agencies and DMC organisations with selected international buyers and provides a concrete opportunity for new business collaborations, market development and positioning of the tourism offer towards relevant partners.
The tenth edition of TOURISM 365 brings the T365 Excellence Awards for the first time, international professional recognitions for tourism leaders, destinations, companies, institutions and projects whose work shows how tourism can create greater value for destinations, local communities, the economy and guests. The call for applications is open to all stakeholders in the tourism sector whose projects and initiatives were launched in the last 24 months, and the application is completely free. The application deadline is 15 September 2026, while the winners will be announced at the festive T365 Excellence Awards Night dinner on 6 October 2026 in Zagreb.
This year, TOURISM 365 is once again including young people through the Student Hackathon, in which student teams develop innovative solutions for the challenges of the tourism sector with mentoring support. The most successful project will be rewarded with a special T365 Future Talent Award.
All information about the conference is available at: turizam365.com.
