The “Travel through Science” Conference Held for the Eighth Time – Focus on Artificial Intelligence
The conference was organized by Dr. Melinda Jászberényi, Head of the Department at Corvinus University of Budapest, and Dr. András Munkácsy, Head of the Center at the Hungarian Institute of Transport Science and Logistics (KTI). More than 100 professionals and researchers attended the event, which this year focused on AI-based intelligent solutions.
The event was opened by Dr. Bruno van Pottelsberghe, Rector of Corvinus University of Budapest. In his welcome speech, he emphasized the importance of researching the impact of digital technologies on tourism and conducting socio-economic analyses, an area where the Department of Tourism at Corvinus plays a key role. He also noted that this was the eighth time the conference had been organized and, as in previous years, it provided an online participation option, supporting the event’s internationalization and the launch of English-language sections.
The first speaker of the opening session was Dr. Ádám Csepeti, Deputy State Secretary responsible for Strategic Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office and a lecturer at Corvinus University. His speech placed the main themes of the conference into context by providing an overview of strategic areas, highlighting the significance of tourism in the Hungarian economy. Dr. Lóránd Bói, Deputy State Secretary responsible for transport strategy at the Ministry of Construction and Transport, was unable to attend due to other commitments. However, in a message, he expressed his appreciation for the conference’s mission since its inception and its role as a platform for professionals in tourism and transport.
In his keynote speech, Dr. Péter Baranyi, Professor at the Corvinus Institute of Advanced Studies, provided insights into artificial intelligence research. By presenting historical research connections, he highlighted that while AI is not a new topic, interest in the field has surged dramatically in recent years, along with major breakthroughs.
The opening session concluded with a presentation by Olivér Csendes, CEO of Visit Hungary. He emphasized the role of digital transformation in tourism and explained how Hungary’s tourism management system operates with the support of the National Tourism Data Supply Center, which facilitates data-driven decision-making. He also pointed out that artificial intelligence is integrated into Visit Hungary’s chatbots, making it easier for tourists to access information.
Plenary Sessions on Tourism and AI
At the tourism-focused plenary session of the conference, Dr. Attila Jámbor, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development at Corvinus University, delivered a welcome speech. He emphasized the key role of the Department of Tourism in tourism research, particularly in examining the application of artificial intelligence and consumer acceptance.
One of the plenary lectures was delivered by Natália Oszkó-Jakab, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Hungarian Tourism Program Foundation, titled “Online Solutions and Sustainability in Festival Tourism.” She stressed that sustainable festival organization requires considering environmental, economic, and social factors together.
Mirkó Petényi, CEO of the Active and Ecotourism Development Center (AÖFK), highlighted in his presentation that the joint goal of the National Active Tourism Strategy and the Monspart Sarolta Active Lifestyle Strategy is to improve Hungary’s livability. Active tourism plays a key role in ensuring that by the end of the decade, Hungary becomes one of Europe’s most livable countries.
Balázs Kovács, an international tourism expert and Managing Director of GD Consulting, spoke about sustainability trends and best practices in tourism. He emphasized that beyond strategic planning, credible sustainability certifications and labels play a crucial role in the sector’s development.
Dr. Melinda Jászberényi, Head of the Department of Tourism at Corvinus, presented the department’s three-year research plans on tourism sustainability and artificial intelligence. She also introduced their initial research findings in this field and their impact on educational practices.
Thematic Sections and Future Plans
Following the plenary session, the conference continued with ten thematic panel discussions covering a wide range of topics:
- Disruptive Solutions in Tourism and Mobility (Chairs: Dr. Márk Miskolczi and Dr. Tamás Iványi)
- Economic, Social, and Policy Issues of Transport (Chair: Dr. András Munkácsy)
- Artificial Intelligence in Tourism Marketing (Chairs: Dr. habil. Anna Irimiás and Dr. Monica Coronel Padilla)
- Opportunities and Impacts of Tourism Development (Chairs: Dr. Krisztina Keller and Dr. habil. Szabolcs Mátyás)
- The Demand Side of Transport (Chair: Dr. József Pál Lieszkovszky)
- The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Tourism Management: Impacts on Sustainability (Chairs: Dr. habil. Katalin Ásványi and Dr. Zsuzsanna Fehér)
- Destination Adaptation: How to Become an Even Better Place After Polycrises? (Chairs: Dr. László Kökény and Prof. Dr. Gábor Michalkó)
- Challenges in Heritage Tourism and the Role of AI in Attraction Development (Chairs: Dr. habil. Melinda Jászberényi and Dr. Gábor Zsigmond)
- Transport Connections (Chair: Dr. András Munkácsy)
- Challenges in Agro– and Gastronomic Tourism (Chairs: Dr. Bence Csapody and Zsolt Matoltsy)
- Urban Sports Events and the Development of Sports Spaces: Urban Planning, Sociological, and Sustainability Considerations (Chairs: Dr. Ágnes Varga, Bálint Tóth, and Zsanett Zsigó)
Due to the great interest, the Department of Tourism will organize the conference again next year. Over the years, this event has become one of the leading professional and scientific conferences in the socio-economic analysis of tourism and mobility.
The event was supported by the TRA2026 project, which is responsible for preparing the Transport Research Arena – “ReGeneration in Transport” conference and professional-scientific competition, to be held in Budapest from May 18–21, 2026. The Transport Research Arena call for speakers and related information can be found at http://traconference.eu/.
