This book features the third volume of the proceedings of the 12th International Conference of the International Association of Cultural and Digital Tourism (IACuDiT) with the theme "Management, Culture and Arts Synergies for Future Innovative Tourism Development," which took place in Corfu, Greece, from September 2–4, 2025. It presents contemporary research exploring the cultural, organizational, and policy dimensions that contribute to the sustainable and competitive development of tourism destinations and hospitality organizations.
Volume 3 brings together five complementary thematic areas:
V. Cultural Heritage and Identity in Tourism
VI. Food, Wine, and Gastronomy Tourism
VII. Innovation and Competitiveness in Hospitality
VIII. Policies and Regional Development
IX. Soft Skills, Leadership, and Talent Management in Tourism
Together, these contributions highlight the central role of cultural heritage, local resources, innovation, governance, and human capital in shaping resilient and competitive tourism ecosystems. The volume emphasizes that the future of tourism depends not only on preserving cultural identity and fostering authentic visitor experiences, but also on strategic policymaking, organizational innovation, effective leadership, and the development of skilled professionals capable of responding to an increasingly dynamic global environment. By adopting an interdisciplinary perspective, the book offers valuable insights for researchers, educators, policymakers, and tourism professionals committed to building sustainable, culturally rich, and future-ready destinations.

Vicky Katsoni is Professor in Tourism Marketing and e-Tourism modules at the University of West Attica, Athens, Greece, and Director of the Tourism Distant Learning Programs of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Business and Social Sciences. She has published over 18 books on tourism, many chapters in edited volumes, and numerous papers in highly academic journals. She is President of the non-profit “International Association of Cultural and Digital Tourism” and a member of the Editorial Board of many journals in tourism and marketing. She has directed and participated in several European and National research projects and works as an expert, evaluator, and reviewer of projects requesting European Commission funding such as Horizon 2020, Erasmus + KA2, and Cost. Her research interests include tourism innovation and planning, tourism marketing, tourism destination strategies, gender in tourism, cultural tourism, tourism consumer behavior and sustainability.