Research themes

Research theme lead: Dr Jason Chen

This research theme focuses on developing and applying cutting-edge methods in economic analysis and forecasting in the context of tourism, hospitality, transport and events. Members of this theme work on a wide range of areas such as tourism demand, economic impact of the Visitor Economy, firm performance, productivity and tourism competitiveness while pushing the boundaries of econometric, time series and spatial economic modelling and forecasting techniques.

Research theme lead: Professor Allan Williams

Innovation and entrepreneurship are at the core of this theme. Research on innovation focusses on the process of innovation in the firm, paying particular attention to knowledge and uncertainty, but also addressing the role of innovation in policy areas such as sustainability as well as in academia. Innovation research is strongly linked to investigations of entrepreneurship in the public, private, and third sectors, with gender and migration being important lines of research. Investigations of risk and uncertainty also extend beyond the firm to the analysis of consumer preferences and behaviour.

Research theme lead: Dr Tracy Xu

Future of work and labour mobilities are at the core of this theme. Members of this theme investigate labour productivity and wellbeing, migration, gender issues, and technology-enhanced employability of future workforce in the visitor economy. This theme supports research on how work in the visitor economy is changing, the internal and external forces that support the change, and their implications on organisational performance, employee wellbeing and dignity.

Research theme lead: Dr Marion Karl

This theme of research focuses on the consumer behaviour side of competitiveness. Research from this theme includes topics such as tourists’ and visitors’ decision-making, tourism experiences, destination choice and influencing factors, tourist and visitor behaviour, or visitor attraction and destination marketing as well as management.