PhD Projects

Tourism´s role in contested areas

Jack Shepherds research looks at the role(s) that tourism plays within deeply contested spaces. It has a particular focus on the Israeli-Palestinian context. Given the situation in the region, his research focuses on the role tourism can play in aggravating tensions within this contested space, yet more commonly, on the role tourism has in promoting alternative, more constructive, narratives of the Israeli-Palestinian context. His research pays particular attention to tourism spaces, such as hostels, hotels and hiking trails, that are designed to further the peace agenda in the region.

His work also focuses on the development of reflexive methodologies such as autoethnography within tourism studies and the encouragement of emotional, accessible writing.

For more information, contact Jack Shepherd

Event portfolios and community development

Martin Wallstams PhD research explores the use of even portfolios (all events that take place within the boundaries of a destination) as a tool to leverage social and economic development on municipal, regional and on a general destination level.

For more information, contact Martin Wallstam

Forest-based Experiences in Inner Scandinavia

Eugenio Conti’s PhD is situated within the Interreg project “Ingoskog”, whose general aim is the sustainable development of forest areas in the Inner Scandinavia. Eugenio’s research work investigates the nature-based tourism experiences that make use of natural resources commonly found in Inner Scandinavia, mainly forests, in conjunction with wetlands, rivers and lakes. Eugenio is currently studying the experience digitalization, namely the creation of experience value online and disconnection, and the experience staging, namely experience guiding and interpretation.

For more information, contact Eugenio Conti.

Smart destinations - understanding the interactions and driving forces in digital destination development

The evolution of disruptive information technology has resulted in the development of smart destinations, as information technology is a major driving force of change in the tourism industry. Hence, adapting to the emerging technologies, will lead to new challenges within tourism in general and destination development specifically. Jennie Gelters PhD project focus on the phenomena of emerging smart destinations. The project will eamine how some case destinations react and adapt to internal and external digital forces (i.e. system disturbances) in their process of becoming smart destinations. The aim of the research is to generate new knowledge about the dynamic interactions between destination stakeholders, and with global intermediates in the process of digital transformation.

For more information, contact Jennie Gelter.

Negotiating Pathways to Multifunctional Landscapes: A Pilot Model in the Jämtland Mountains

Kristin Godtman Kling licentiate-project is within the project "Negotiating Pathways to Multifunctional Landscapes: A Pilot Model in the Jämtland Mountains", funded by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Kristins research focuses on how recreational trails can be a tool to manage land-use conflicts in the Southern Jämtland Mountains, and also how recreational trails can contribute to a sustainable use of the mountain landscape.

Key words: Nature-based tourism, conflict management, outdoor recreation, sustainability, mountain tourism, landscape.

For more information, contact Kristin Godtman Kling.

Regional tourism economic impact analysis: A socioeconomic perspective

Kai Kronenbergs research encompasses the socio-economic effects of tourism, with the focus on jobs and income on the regional level. As the tourism industry is not only limited to the hotel sector but rather comprises of a variety of different products and services, it typically requires specific tools and models to estimate tourism’ total economic contribution to the region.

The purpose of the thesis is to elaborate on the aggregated (and often uncritically reported) figures on the economic impact of tourism, in order to gain a better understanding of the actual quality of these jobs and the income created and maintained from tourism. Accordingly, the thesis aims towards a framework for a comprehensive study on the socio-economic impact of tourism on the regional level.

For more information, contact Kai Kronenberg.

Behind the scenes: Entrepreneurial behaviour in micro-tourism firms in rural areas

Micro-tourism firms in rural areas typically operate within small economic margins, lack a relevant professional background and have limited access to resources. The aim of this research project is to explore how, within these circumstances, micro-tourism firms could potentially discover entrepreneurial opportunities, source customer knowledge and utilise resources beyond their control.   

For more information, contact Jonathan M Yachin.

Event experiences and Event design

Anders Nordvall's Phd project is within the area of event experiences and event design. The focus for the work is social experiences and surprises, and how events can be designed for these experiential dimensions.

For more information, contact Anders Nordvall.