

Centre for Sustainability and Wellbeing in the Visitor Economy
We are developing critical evidence to inform public and private governance of the visitor economy, in the UK and globally.
Research aims

We strive to deliver research and teaching which drives inspiration for an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable society with a particular focus on the transport, tourism, hospitality and events industries. With a truly interdisciplinary group of academics, we work with intergovernmental organisations, industry and NGOs. We focus on the following key areas:
- Sustainability evidence-based policy making
- Industry’s acceptance of responsibility for sustainable development
- Sustainable development and entrepreneurship
- Sustainable and efficient transportation
- Sustainability marketing, product design and communication.
Research projects
SusTPol (Sustainable Tourism evidence-informed Policy)
Principal investigators: Professor Xavier Font, Dr Anna Torres-Delgado
Start date:
End date:
EXPERIENCE - Experiential tourism offer to extend the visitor season
Principal investigator: Professor Xavier Font
Sustainability evidence-based policy making
Principal investigator: Professor Xavier Font
Sustainable and efficient transportation
Principal investigators: Dr Scott Cohen, Dr Andrew Hares
Sustainable change management and corporate responsibility
Principal investigator: Professor Xavier Font
Observatory for Human Rights and Major Events (HaRM)

Aligning ‘well-being’ and ‘human rights’ together, specifically in the context of major events, SWELL is home to the new research ‘Observatory for Human Rights and Major Events’ (HaRM). HaRM’s work is focused around three Pillars: 1) human exploitation and trafficking, 2) urban regeneration and development: Community disruption and displacement, and 3) Visitor economies and experiences: Organisational and behavioural barriers to community leveraging. More detailed information about HaRM, research topics, and experts involved can be found on the HaRM webpage.
Gender, Entrepreneurship and Social Policy Institute (GESPi)

The Gender, Entrepreneurship and Social Policy Institute (GESPi) conducts research on how to achieve more sustainable forms of development and how to promote wellbeing through the tourism, hospitality, events and other service sectors. This includes getting a better understanding regarding the role of tourism and the services sectors within communities in enabling the diversification of livelihoods and promoting sustainable entrepreneurship and employment, particularly for marginalised communities, including promoting gender empowerment. We analyse how policy adjustments and stakeholder collaborations can generate positive change and inclusive growth. For more information please see the GESPi website.
Find an expert

Professor Xavier Font
Director of the Centre
Researchers

Professor Susanne Becken
VC Research Fellow

Nicole Cocolas
Lecturer in Transport Management

Professor Scott Cohen
Professor of Tourism and Transport, School Director of Research

Dr Michael Duignan
Head of Department and Reader in Events

Dr Cristina Figueroa Domecq
Marie Curie Research Fellow

Dr Viachaslau Filimonau
Reader in Hospitality Innovation

Christy Hehir
Programme Leader and Lecturer in Events / PhD Researcher (Environmental Psychology & Travel)

Dr Michael Humbracht
Lecturer

Professor Leo Jago
Emeritus Professor

Dr Bora Kim
Lecturer

Dr Albert Kimbu
Reader, Head of Department of Tourism and Transport

Dr Yanning Li
Lecturer in Events Management

Professor Nigel Morgan
Head of School of Hospitality and Tourism Management

Dr Pablo Pereira Doel
ESRC Research Fellow

Dr Alector Ribeiro
Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management

Professor Caroline Scarles
Professor of Technology in Society, Director of Centre of Digital Transformation in the Visitor Economy

Professor Daniel Scott
Vice-Chancellor's Fellow

Dr Hakseung Shin
Lecturer

Dr Nikolas Thomopoulos
Senior Lecturer in Transport

Dr Anna Torres-Delgado
Marie Curie Research Fellow

Dr Lorna Wang
Deputy Head, Department of Hospitality

Anke Winchenbach
Teaching Fellow
Postgraduate research students

Ruhual Amin
PhD researcher

Rachel Chang
PhD researcher

David Cloarec
PhD researcher

Gloria Crabolu
PhD researcher

Sara Dalir
PhD researcher

Lori Hoy
PhD researcher

Mohamed Ibrahim
PhD researcher

Yuting Jiang
PhD researcher

Minhee Jung
PhD researcher

Wanwisa Khampanya
PhD researcher

Hye Rhim Kim
PhD researcher

Youngsoo Kim
PhD researcher

Xiaotong Ma
PhD researcher

Gilang Majid
PhD researcher

Clemens Marggraf
Postgraduate Research Student

Alice Marques Da Silva Alegria Brazã
PhD researcher

Jose Francisco Melenez Roman
PhD researcher

Luigina Montano
PhD researcher

Harald Rice
PhD researcher

Shoukry Rozek
PhD researcher

Prosanjit Saha
PhD researcher

Roz Sherman-Davies
Postgraduate Research Student

Lauren Siegel
PhD researcher

Bert Smit
PhD researcher

Whitney Smith
PhD researcher

Jenny Suno Wu
PhD researcher

Darina Svobodova
PhD researcher

Anke Winchenbach
PhD researcher