This is what we aim for
To enable a paradigm shift from an emphasis on developing tourism for others, to an emphasis of developing tourism with others to ensure stewardship, long term inclusion and contributions to sustainable development.
This is how we do it
We are committed to collaboration to generate outcomes that could not be achieved by a single individual or organization. Collaboration for intentional change with others is crucially needed to gain advantages in an unpredictable world. We charter new territory in international academe based on multidisciplinary research and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
This is what we work on
Among the research methods and methodologies we develop and advance are tourism co-design, participatory inquiry, go-alongs in a variety of forms, and netnography.
We explore and advance understandings of engagements with nature. We dig into how engaging with nature can positively affect wellbeing and healthy ageing, accentuating evanescent versions of individuals’ subjective being and objective health through the embeddedness of physical mobilities, emotional geographies and therapeutic landscapes.
Festivals and events are examined as tourism attractions, stakeholder constellation, volunteering and engagement opportunities and business innovations.
We experiment with and set new standards for tourism higher education. We have developed the field of Tourism Co-design and Participatory Inquiry where students and teachers are engaged in collaborative learning efforts with others in a range of environments.
We have developed an award-winning, tourism innovation learning platform INNOTOUR.
Innovation resources are not restricted and should not be restricted to local and close networks. We experiment with open innovation together with businesses, academics, students and other stakeholders. We have developed an award-winning, open tourism innovation platform
INNOTOUR.
Tourism is often at the core of protecting natural areas from the commercial use of nature. We explore how humans value nature, a few of which UNESCO classify as ‘Outstanding Universal Value’, related notions of sustainability and stewardship.
Rural tourism and gastronomy represent arenas of resilience, community interactions, and zones of sustainable tourism practice.
We critically examine existing techniques and collaboratively develop new methodologies of tourist experience design. These can facilitate the creative process for developing engaging, accessible and inclusive tourism products that may result in multisensory and transformative tourist experiences.