The globalizing world led by the most developed economies is at the beginning of the fifth industrial revolution, and the changes it brings will affect us all. The European Union, just like other leading economies, has strong competitive advantages that allow them to modernize their economies, preserve the natural environment and improve the health of the inhabitants living in those countries, that is, to stay on the path of the concept of sustainable development. The European Union was a leader in the adoption of the United Nations Program for Sustainable Development until 2030 and is fully committed to its implementation and firmly committed to persevere on the path of transition to a low-carbon, climate-neutral, resource-efficient and biodiverse economy. In this context, it is committed to the implementation of policies and programs that will result in: a transition from a linear to a circular economy, a sustainable food system based on the “field to table” concept, clean energy production, ensuring social justice and supporting a just transition to sustainability.
An important component of sustainable development is sustainable tourism, which represents the “smart” disposal of tourist resources, from cultural values to natural resources. Economic, social and ecological aspects of sustainable tourism represent a challenge for a large number of scientists from different fields of science. Taking into account the current digital transition and accelerated technological development on a global scale, it is to be expected that the management of tourism in a sustainable manner will be facilitated, and the success of the implementation of innovations in the entire tourism ecosystem is likely.
The countries of Southeast Europe that are in the status of candidate countries for membership in the European Union, in addition to the challenges arising from the concept of sustainable development, also have the challenge of meeting the conditions on the way to full membership, where they must go through the opening and closing of pre-accession negotiations, signing and ratification of the accession agreement. Bosnia and Herzegovina, in addition, must implement 14 key priorities established in the opinion of the European Commission with an emphasis on the areas of democracy and functionality of the state, rule of law, fundamental rights and public administration reforms.
ICEI2023 “Sustainable economy and tourism towards joining the European union” will try to find answers to the questions of the achieved level of application of the concept of sustainable development and the concept of sustainable tourism in SEE countries, their possibilities and opportunities to improve and catch up with developed countries in the implementation of the concept of sustainable economic development . Aware of the limitations resulting from the low level of development of these countries and the need for financing the transformation of the economy on the paths of sustainable development and fulfilling the conditions for full membership in the European Union, efforts will be made to find answers to the allocation of funds from EU programs intended for the implementation of transformational policies and programs.
In the aforementioned context, ICEI2023 represents a platform for promoting solutions derived from scientific papers and discussions of researchers and scientists on the topics of sustainable development and sustainable tourism. The participants of the conference will look at global topics in the context of the countries of Southeast Europe and offer answers to the current challenges of sustainable development, sustainable tourism and meeting the conditions for full membership in the European Union. During the conference, concrete recommendations to decision-makers in the implementation of policies and programs for the establishment of the concept of sustainable economic development in the countries of Southeast Europe will also be discussed.
The topicality of the central theme of ICEI2023 “Sustainable economy and tourism towards joining the European union”, the experiences and traditions of the previously held seven conferences give us the right to announce the participation of a large number of eminent scientists, researchers and experts from the fields of economics and business, as well as scientists from related fields, whose research results contribute to identifying solutions for successfully dealing with the challenges of sustainable development, sustainable tourism, meeting the conditions of the countries of Southeast Europe on the way to full membership in the European Union.