In June 2023, Prof Karen Harris, Head of the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies (DHHS), attended the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education and Research (ATLAS) international conference held in Rotterdam. The conference theme was “Bridging Cultures through Travel: From theory to practice”. She presented a paper entitled “A South African Rainbow Rendition: conscientising cultural sensitivities among tourism students”, reflecting on how tourism is pivotal to intercultural competence. 

She also attended the ATLAS Africa meeting where she, along with her colleague CR Botha, is the Africa representatives on the executive board. Here the prospect of hosting a forthcoming ATLAS Africa conference in southern Africa at the University of Zululand was discussed with fellow colleagues from the University of Zululand, Prof Thandi Nzama and Dr Mildred Nkwanyane, along with Prof Corne van Dijk from Breda University who is vice president of ATLAS. The further expansion of the ATLAS Africa branch was also discussed. At the conference, a number of comparative research collaborations were also considered, particularly as regards indigenous communities and the guiding sector.