The Sustainable and Resilient Regional and Tourism Development Laboratory (“SuReLab”) is an officially established research laboratory (Government Gazette of establishment: 1041/Vol. B’/24.02.2023) of the Department of Financial and Management Engineering in Tourism at the University of the Aegean, directed by Maria P. Ntoumi, Associate Professor.
The Laboratory serves as a modern research and educational hub for the study and design of sustainable and resilient development solutions for tourism destinations and regions, with a particular emphasis on tourism as a dynamic and strategic development sector.
Its activities are structured around two core pillars: sustainability and resilience, through the development of methods, models, and decision-support tools for planning and policymaking.
The Laboratory operates as an open framework for collaboration among academics, researchers, public and private organizations, and businesses, supporting the design, evaluation, and implementation of policies and development interventions.
Strategic Objectives of the Laboratory
To fulfill its mission, the Laboratory organizes its activities around the following six (6) Strategic Objectives:
1. Local Production, Agri-food Systems, Thematic Routes, and Cultural Identity
The Laboratory is engaged in the study, creation, and promotion of:
- thematic routes and “local product trails,”
- local agricultural and traditional products, emphasizing quality, authenticity, and sustainable utilization,
- synergies between tourism and small-scale agriculture,
with the aim of developing sustainable local value chains, strengthening local economies, and highlighting the cultural identity of regions.
2. Evaluation Systems, Indicators, and Support for Evidence-Based Policy and Strategic Planning
The Laboratory develops and applies:
- integrated and systemic frameworks for assessing sustainability and resilience,
- indicators, monitoring tools, and decision-support systems,
- methodologies for evidence-based policymaking and strategic planning,
with the objective of supporting destination and regional governance and improving the effectiveness of public policies at local, regional, and national levels.
3. Governance, Institutional Frameworks, and Multi-level Cooperation Mechanisms
The Laboratory develops and analyzes:
- institutional governance frameworks,
- coordination and cooperation mechanisms among public services, local authorities, chambers of commerce, and other stakeholders,
- participatory and collaborative policy-planning models,
with the aim of enhancing the effective design, implementation, and evaluation of policies for sustainable, resilient, and socially equitable development.
4. Sustainable, Circular, and Resilient Tourism and Regional Development
The Laboratory seeks to develop and implement scientific methods, tools, and policies for sustainable and circular tourism, urban, and regional development, with emphasis on:
- the management of natural resources, energy, water, and waste,
- reducing environmental footprints and conducting life-cycle cost analysis,
- strengthening the resilience of destinations and regions against crises, natural disasters, extreme events, pandemics, and other external risks.
5. Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Social Sustainability
The Laboratory promotes:
- the development of innovative practices and new business models in tourism and related sectors,
- green and digital innovation,
- socially equitable and inclusive development,
with emphasis on employment, social cohesion, reducing inequalities, and improving quality of life in tourism and regional areas.
6. Digital Transformation, Smart Tourism, and Decision-Support Technologies
The Laboratory promotes the use of:
- digital technologies,
- data analytics,
- geospatial systems and information platforms,
- decision-support systems,
for the planning, management, and monitoring of the sustainable and resilient development of tourism destinations and regions.
The above objectives are implemented through:
- basic and applied research,
- participation in national, European, and international research programs,
- collaborations with public and private organizations,
- provision of scientific services, studies, and expert advisory reports,
- organization of conferences, seminars, workshops, and knowledge dissemination activities.