Silvia Fernandes

Dr. Silvia Fernandes is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve, where she lectures on Information technology and systems, and Innovation economics in undergraduate and master courses. She holds a PhD in Information Economics from the same university and is a member of Cinturs (Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being).

Her educational background includes a PhD in Economics (2005) from the University of Algarve with a specialization in Information Economics, and a Licenciatura in Informatics - Management (1994) from the University of Algarve. She has been teaching at the university since 1998, first at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (1998-2001) before moving to the Faculty of Economics as an Assistant Professor (2001-present).

Dr. Fernandes' research focuses on the intersection of information systems, tourism development, and innovation. Her work particularly examines how emergent technologies, IoT, and digital transformation impact tourism and business sectors. She has published extensively on sustainable tourism, smart city applications, and the role of social media in business transformation. Her recent publications show a strong emphasis on post-pandemic tourism recovery, data analytics applications, and sustainable development through technological innovation, often using the Algarve region of Portugal as a case study context.

Her scholarly contributions include numerous journal articles in reputable publications such as Big Data and Cognitive Computing, Technology in Society, and International Journal of Innovation and Learning, along with book chapters and conference proceedings that address contemporary challenges in tourism and digital business.

• best congress paper award (2016)
• best congress paper award (2017)

Dr. Fernandes actively supervises master's students, with recent theses focusing on sustainable tourism practices, digital marketing, information systems applications, and tourism competitiveness through data analysis. She serves on the scientific committees of Tourism Management Studies and RISTI - Revista Iberica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informacao, and is a reviewer for Technology in Society (Elsevier) and International Journal of Innovation Management (World Scientific). As a researcher at Cinturs, she contributes to projects exploring the convergence of technology and sustainable tourism development in Portugal.