Camilo Peña-Ramírez is Associate Professor and Department Director at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Organizational Management at the Universidad de Playa Ancha, Chile.
Duration
2 months, 30 May to 2 August 2026
Host at the University of Passau
CENTOURIS - Applied Solutions (Dr. Stefan Mang)
Tourism is one of the most dynamic sectors in Latin America, generating employment and supporting local economies. However, many of those who work in tourism—such as guides, street vendors, and small entrepreneurs—operate informally, without stable income or access to social protection. At the same time, digital platforms are rapidly transforming tourism by connecting travelers with local services. While these tools can create new opportunities for visibility and market access, they also risk reinforcing precarious working conditions and regulatory gaps.
This project explores how digital platforms can be designed and used to promote innovation, inclusion, and sustainability in tourism. It will focus on two case study cities: Valparaíso in Chile and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Both cities are rich in cultural and natural heritage, but face persistent challenges in ensuring that tourism development benefits local communities. By co-designing and testing a pilot digital platform, the project will engage universities, municipalities, cultural organizations, and community actors to generate practical solutions that address informality while supporting better governance.
The fellowship at the University of Passau will play a central role in this endeavour. Working with Dr. Stefan Mang and CENTOURIS, a research institute with strong expertise in applied tourism research and digitalisation, the project will gain comparative insights from European experiences. The collaboration will also enrich interdisciplinary dialogue, connecting engineering, tourism, and social sciences.
The expected outcomes include a comparative diagnosis of the two cities, a functional prototype of the platform, and joint publications. Ultimately, the project aims to demonstrate how digitalisation can be harnessed for inclusive and sustainable tourism in Latin America, with lessons relevant worldwide.
