Research courses

Throughout your PhD, you will be supported by a team of supervisors carrying out cutting-edge research in a range of topics including competitiveness in the visitor economy, digital visitor economy, and sustainability and wellbeing in the visitor economy. You will also have several mentoring and teaching opportunities, joining more than 50 PhD students, in one of the largest hospitality and tourism communities in the world.

What we are researching

Competitiveness in the visitor economy

  • Competitiveness at firm and destination levels
  • Modelling and forecasting the visitor economy
  • Equality and diversity in employment
  • Labour markets, productivity, career mobilities, skills, flexible employment and entrepreneurial migration
  • Advances in destination branding, innovation, revenue management, and visitor experience and satisfaction
  • Risk and disaster impacts

Sustainability and wellbeing in the visitor economy

  • 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

Digital visitor economy

  • Digital transformation
  • New media and consumer behaviour,
  • New business models
  • Disruptive innovation, transformation in business operations and performance
  • Smart systems including artificial intelligence and robotics, sensors andthe internet of things
  • Data science including biometric research, data analytics and pattern recognition in big data

Expert support

Our Doctoral College supports the academic and professional development of postgraduate researchers to ensure our world-leading research continues to grow. There is also an extensive Researcher Development Programme run at university level.

What our students say

Read our student profiles to discover first-hand what it's like to study with us.

Completing my PhD at Surrey has fortified me with top-notch research skills that will stand the test of time internationally. Frederick Dayour, PhD Hospitality and Tourism Management
Frederick Dayour

FIND A SUPERVISOR

OPEN AFTERNOON

WEBINARS