ETOUR welcomes Fulbright specialist Bynum Boley

Dr. Bynum Boley lives in Athens with his family and works at the University of Georgia. His stay in Jämtland is the result of many years of academic connections.

Many years ago, he met Dr. Marianna Strzelecka, a Swedish tourism professor from Linnaeus University, at an international tourism research conference. What began as a meeting developed into a lasting collaboration, and when the same professor later advised him to contact ETOUR, Bynum discovered a tourism research environment that matched his interests perfect. 

Bynums research interests is primarily on sustainable tourism with special attention to how the unique natural and cultural resources of communities can be protected, packaged and marketed to jointly increase sustainability, resident quality of life and a community’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.

Awarded a Fulbright Specialist Grant

Two years after his discovery of ETOUR, Bynum had the opportunity to join the research centre as a visiting researcher through a scholarship from Fulbright, a well-established academic exchange program designed to strengthen knowledge exchange and international collaboration. 

The Fulbright Specialist Award is aimed at researchers who contribute cutting-edge expertise in short, intensive projects, and for Bynum the award represents a professional recognition.

– It really feels like an honor to share my knowledge with others, and just as rewarding to learn from others and be able to bring new perspectives back to the United States, he says.

Research with a focus on Järvsö

During his time at ETOUR, Bynum will work on a research project that aims to help the nature-based tourism destination of Järvsö learn more about how to attract both new visitors and new residents. Järvsö seeks to increase its number of permanent residents through tourism, a phenomenon Bynum is eager to understand more deeply.

– I have previously done research on how residents perceive tourism, but in this project we are instead focusing on how tourism can inspire visitors to take the step of relocating to Järvsö permanently. We are examining how local residents view tourism when it is used as a strategy to attract new inhabitants, says Bynum.

During his months in Sweden, Bynum will share insights from his previous research with his new colleagues at ETOUR. He will also give guest lectures for tourism students and work to build connections with researchers at Mid Sweden University, as well as across Sweden and Europe. Several academic conferences are scheduled for the spring.

Long-Term Collaboration as a Goal

Bynum views his time in Östersund as an opportunity to further develop his relationship with ETOUR and hopes that his stay will lead to a lasting collaboration that continues beyond spring 2026.

– I hope that my time here marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration with the researchers at ETOUR. I can see several potential research proposals ahead and perhaps even student exchanges between the University of Georgia and Mid Sweden University, he says.

Differences between Swedish and American Nature Destinations

Although Bynum has only been in Sweden for a short time, he has already noticed some differences between nature-based tourism in the two countries.

– In the United States, many natural areas suffer from overtourism. In Sweden, the greater geographical spread of attractive places creates different challenges. Rural communities here need to think creatively about how tourism can contribute to economic development and long-term sustainability. Learning about this in a new context is truly exciting, Bynum says.

Meeting Researchers, Doctoral Candidates and Tourism Students

With his experience, enthusiasm, and commitment to long-term collaboration, Bynum is a valuable addition to ETOUR over the coming months. Tourism researcher Maria Lexhagen has long worked to bring him to Östersund and is delighted that he is now here.

– It is very rewarding for both us and for Bynum that the Fulbright program enables this exchange. He will contribute his knowledge to both teaching and research. He has already met with our PhD students and students from the Tourism and Destination Development program. This week he also visited Järvsö with us which was really great, says Maria.

An Adventure for the Whole Family

Bynum has traveled from Georgia to Jämtland together with his wife and three children at ages 12, 10, and 5. For the family, their stay is as much an adventure as it is a research assignment. The have jumped head first into winter sports with Calhoun (age 12) joining the Östersund hockey team ÖIK, and Zemp and Isabel participating in cross country skiing with Östersund SK .

– We are curious to learn more about the culture here. We are looking forward to experiencing a Swedish winter and trying all the winter sports that Östersund has to offer, Bynum says.

Welcome to ETOUR and Mid Sweden University, Bynum!

Learn more about Dr. Bynum Boley 

Bynum is employed by the UGA Tourism Research Lab at Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Geogia. Read more about the reseach lab here.  

Bynum has a long background in tourism research. Read more about his work and discover his publications here.