NET-StaR Seminar: Social Tourism and Destination Regeneration

Wednesday 29 February 2012

On 21st February 2012, Dr Lynn Minnaert and Dr Graham Miller, together with Professor Robert Maitland of the University of Westminster, organised the third seminar of ‘NET-STaR’: the Network for Social Tourism and Regeneration. This network, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, aims to bring together academics from different disciplines, practitioners and policy makers to discuss the potential of social tourism in the UK.

 

The seminar was opened by Professor Dick Butler, who discussed the challenges and trends in destination rejuvenation. Professor Butler applied his famous Tourist Area Life Cycle model to a range of destinations, and discussed the potential role of social tourism for destinations in decline. Professor John Walton, of IKERBASQUE in Spain, then provided a historical perspective on social tourism, covering European and non-European examples ranging from Germany to Uruguay.  Dr Lynn Minnaert built on these two presentations to discuss current innovations in social tourism and how they can help to reposition destinations. A practical case study was finally provided by James Clifton, of British Waterways, who discussed the example of Foxton Locks in the East Midlands.
The seminar attracted an audience of 30 academics (spanning disciplines from economics to sociology) and destination managers from various regions in the UK, and took place in the National Media Museum in Bradford.

The next NET-STaR seminar will take place on June 22nd in Blackpool. For further information, please contact Dr Lynn Minnaert.