From June 17 to 20, 2026, researchers and experts gathered in Venice for the EURA 2026 Conference. Under the title “Cities under Strain – Rethinking the Ungovernable,” they discussed current challenges in urban development—ranging from housing and mobility to climate change and overtourism. Cornelia Dlabaja, holder of the endowed chair for sustainable urban and tourism development at FHWien der WKW, was also represented as part of the “Heritage under Overtourism” track.
Research on Placemaking and Sustainable Urban Development
Cornelia Dlabaja presented her talk “Caring for the City – Placemaking in Tourism and Urban Development” as part of the panel “Communities of Place, Social Inequalities, Spatial Justice.” The presentation focused on questions that concern many cities around the world: How can public spaces be designed to meet the needs of both the local population and visitors? And how can tourism contribute to the positive development of urban neighborhoods?
The research conducted by the endowed professorship examines these challenges at the intersection of urban and tourism development. The focus is on the placemaking approach, which views public spaces not only as places of use but also as spaces for encounter, participation and social relationships. The goal is to create resilient, inclusive and livable places that remain attractive to both residents and visitors in the long term.
Initiatives to Promote International Exchange
Participating in the EURA conference provided an opportunity to discuss research findings with an international audience of experts and to compare experiences from different cities and regions. Venice, in particular — which is regarded worldwide as a prime example of the challenges posed by overtourism—provided a particularly fitting setting for this.
“Cities remain attractive to visitors when they, above all, work for the people who live there. Placemaking helps us to consider tourism and urban development together and to design public spaces in a way that promotes quality of life, participation and social interaction,” says Cornelia Dlabaja.
Research with Practical Applications
The Endowed Chair for Sustainable Urban and Tourism Development conducts research on new approaches to resilient and sustainable urban and tourism development. The focus is on issues related to visitor economy management, the design of public spaces and collaboration between research, urban planning, and the tourism industry.
>> More information about the Endowed Chair Sustainable Urban Tourism