Academic Conference on Resilient Destinations, Corfu, Spring 2026
Corfu, 23 & 24 April, 2026
The Ionian Environment Foundation in collaboration with the Ionian University presents an international academic conference: Towards Resilient Destinations – Integrating Nature, Culture and Tourism for Sustainable Futures (NEST)
NEST (Nature, Environment, Sustainability and Tourism) brings together leading and emerging scholars, stakeholders, and practitioners from the environmental and social sciences, the humanities, and related fields to examine how tourism can support the long-term resilience of natural, cultural, and social environments.
Set in Corfu—home to the rare and largely untouched Erimitis peninsula, one of the island’s last remaining wild landscapes, the conference explores how nature conservation, biodiversity, and sustainable tourism can support resilient and sustainable destinations.
We are honoured to welcome (virtually) Achim Steiner, former Head of the United Nations Development Programme, Ian Goldin, former Head of Policy at the World Bank, and Dimitris Vayanos, Professor of Finance at the London School of Economics. Their contributions will enrich discussions on sustainable development, policy innovation, and the global implications of local conservation efforts. Additional speakers will be announced.
A central aim of NEST is to spark new partnerships, collaborative initiatives, and funding opportunities. By bringing together academic institutions, environmental NGOs, policymakers, and practitioners, the conference seeks to translate research and dialogue into practical, place-based action.
The conference is hosted by the Ionian University and made possible with the generous support of the A.G. Leventis Foundation, the UK Embassy, and private donors, reflecting a shared commitment to safeguarding natural heritage and promoting sustainable futures for communities and ecosystems alike.