Visiting researcher Marie Poulain examines how tourism is shaped by borders and how border areas are shaped by tourism

Hi Marie, you have recently joined us at ETOUR at Mid Sweden University in Östersund as a visiting researcher. Could you to tell us about your background?  

My name is Marie Poulain and I am from Lyon in France, but have lived for several years in the Alps between France and Switzerland. I have a background in international relations with a focus on the Middle East and in geography and urban planning in mountain areas. I am currently finishing my PhD studies at the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Genève, where I am researching the geopolitics of mountain tourism with a special focus on the Middle East.

You are researching the geopolitics of mountain tourism with a special focus on the Middle East. Why did you become interested in this specific area of research?

My research is about mountain tourism in the Middle East's border areas. More specifically, I investigate how tourism movements and mobility function as a political arena where government authorities, regional actors and local tourism actors meet and interact.

Before starting my doctoral studies, I traveled for a year by land from France to Pakistan with the goal of climbing various mountain peaks in border areas along the way, and it was during this trip that my interest in the area I am researching today was awakened. The climbing gave me new perspectives and made me curious about the special conditions that prevail in mountainous border regions. Coming from an area within Schengen, I had become accustomed to crossing national borders in mountainous areas without thinking about it. It has been unproblematic to stand with one foot in Switzerland and the other in France. 

During my travels between France and Pakistan, I began to think about how it works in places where the conditions for crossing a national border are different. I was particularly fascinated by how big mountain tourism is in Iraqi Kurdistan, where a summit tour or hike through a valley can involve permit processes, roadblocks, military restrictions and negotiations with various authorities. This led me to become interested in different perspectives on how security-oriented border areas affect tourism, but also how tourism affects security-characterized border areas.

What do you hope to be able to work with when you have completed your doctoral studies?

I would like to continue in academia and contribute to research on the interaction between tourism and borders, especially in regions that are often studied primarily from the perspective of the conflicts that prevail. I believe that tourism can provide valuable insights into how people experience and navigate political spaces.

It would be exciting to be involved in developing research that strengthens the link between academia and the tourism sector. I would like to contribute to a greater understanding of the role tourism can play in conflict-affected or previously conflict-affected areas of the world.

What is it that made you choose to visit ETOUR and how long do you plan to stay? 

I will be in Östersund from September 2026 to January 2027, and I chose ETOUR because of the expertise in tourism research that is gathered right here. Therefore, it feels important for my doctoral studies to also gain in-depth knowledge in tourism research and the opportunity to exchange experiences with the researchers here.

How have the first weeks in Östersund been? How have you been received, and is there anything that has made a special impression?

I came to Östersund already in August and took the opportunity to discover northern Sweden. My first impression is very positive, and I appreciate that the mountains and lakes are so easily accessible. It reminds me a lot of Switzerland, where I otherwise live. The people here at ETOUR have been very welcoming and I have already had the opportunity to meet research colleagues, discuss my work, and learn more about the work that is being done here. 

Something that really surprised me is how big the taco department in Swedish grocery stores is!

With this, we would like to say a warm welcome to Marie. We look forward to having you here with us at ETOUR and Mid Sweden University during the autumn!