Overview of the organisation
The International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism (Association Internationale D'Experts Scientifiques Du Tourisme [AIEST]) was founded in 1951. This makes the AIEST the oldest international association of academics and practitioners in tourism. It is a voluntary organisation. It is a unique social network with around 150 members in 49 countries on all continents. This network is devoted to an interdisciplinary approach to serving the needs of research in tourism. It includes an Academic as well as a Practitioner stream that allows an international scientific and practical exchange. The AIEST has contributed much to an objective understanding of the modern phenomenon of tourism, and the scientific acceptance of studies in this field. Its members help to pinpoint the latest developments and trends in tourism and to devise farsighted solutions for new problems as they arise.
Vision
AIEST’s vision is to ignite curiosity and passion for tourism among scholars and practitioners alike. We cultivate lifelong learning by providing a platform for tourism research, knowledge exchange, feedback, and mentorship, enabling people to continuously develop and grow to advance the field. AIEST facilitates connections, knowledge, and collaborations across borders around the phenomenon of tourism to encourage a global perspective.
Mission
AIEST’s mission is to empower and inspire scholarly and practitioner inquiry in tourism and share knowledge and information. Its annual conference and specialised exchanges provide a dynamic forum to present and communicate insights from tourism research and business based on exchange and constructive feedback. Thereby, AIEST actively fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange and sparks creativity while facilitating the ongoing professional conduct of tourism. To this end, we create suitable processes and the associated governance.
AIEST Member Benefits
- An international social network platform for continuous exchange between members
- Annual conference at reduced fees to discuss and review developments with colleagues all across the globe
- Channel for/of contacts with other international organisations
- Channel to get in contact with potential external project partners
- An opportunity to work on your future career steps and interact with colleagues who can potentially foster your career
How does the AIEST work?
The AIEST above all tries to promote friendly and informal exchange among its members and to support them on their career path. The association operates a social network platform with specific expert groups and holds an annual meeting, at which all important decisions are taken, together with an annual scientific conference to discuss and review developments with colleagues all across the globe.
Furthermore the AIEST supports the activity of scientific institutes of tourism, or other centres of research and education specializing in tourism.