Erdinc Cakmak

Erdinc Cakmak is a Lecturer at the Academy for Tourism's Centre for Sustainability, Tourism and Transport (CSTT). He holds a PhD in Social Sciences from Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on informal economy dynamics, destination management, and sociological aspects of tourism, with emphasis on conflict-ridden destinations and power relations. Since 2014, he has served as Vice President of the International Sociology Association's Tourism Research Group (RC50).

Education:

• PhD in Social Sciences, Wageningen University & Research

Research Interests:

• Informal Tourism Economies
• Destination Marketing & Communication
• Sociology of Tourism
• Entrepreneurship in Tourism
• Regenerative Tourism Models
• Power Dynamics in Tourism Development

Key Projects:

• CrossReTour: EU-funded study on green/digital transitions of European tourism SMEs
• SmartCulTour: EU Horizon 2020 project on cultural tourism sustainability

Professional Contributions:

• Editorial board member for Annals of Tourism Research
• Co-chaired international conferences on tourism paradoxes and conflict destinations
• Delivered guest lectures on agritourism markets, inclusive growth, and fieldwork methodologies

His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical interventions, emphasizing marginalized voices in tourism development and innovative sustainability approaches.