In order to bridge the gap between West and East in tourism and hospitality research, to provide a forum for exchange of research ideas and good research practices in tourism studies among scholars around the world with a particular focus on the developing countries and to diffuse research findings for the benefits of the tourism industry, International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA) ,the first China-based global academic association on tourism research in the world is founded in Hangzhou on August 15th 2006 by19 founding members all over the world, and headquartered at Peking University in Beijing. ITSA got registered as a non-profit organization in Hong Kong in March 2008.

    19 international tourism experts from 11 countries & regions including Mainland China、Hong Kong, China、Chinese Taiwan、Macau, China、USA、UK、Canada、South Africa、Turkey、Malaysia and South Korea as funding members hosted the conference for ITSA foundation on 15 August 2006 at Haitang Hall, Weijing Hotel in Hanzhou city. During the conference, all delegates discussed and confirmed ITSA chapters, selected 11 delegates as the first executive committee members and determined to headquarter at Peking University.

    ITSA is the first China-based global academic association on tourism research in the world that breaks the situation of long-term domination of tourism academic associations by Europe &USA countries, indicating rapid development in Asia, particularly the development of tourism industry and academic studies in China.

　　
 

International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA) founded on August 15, 2006