Our Research Topics

Be a part of ETOUR’s inspiring research team

The two-year Masters by Research programme is carried out in close collaboration with researchers at ETOUR, the European Tourism Research Centre. ETOUR is Sweden’s leading tourism research centre and the largest tourism research environment in the Nordic region, with around 40 researchers from some twenty countries.

By enrolling in the Masters by Research programme, you gain a unique opportunity to deepen and broaden your knowledge within tourism by planning and conducting a research project together with a senior researcher and, at times, external partners.

Research and joint courses

The Masters by Research programme is offered as a full-time, two‑year programme and consists largely of research work within the research group to which you will belong during this period. Parallel to the research work, you will take joint courses together with students from other Master's programmes.

Current Research Topics

When applying to the Masters by Research programme, you must submit a personal letter stating your interest in theprogramme and present your thoughts in relation to a preferable research topic that you would like to explore. Below, you will find a list of current research topics to choose from.

Contact

Lusine Margaryan, Head of Programme. Send an email to lusine.margaryan@miun.se.

Learn more about the research topics at ETOUR

Sustainable and regenerative tourism

Supervisor: Assistant Professor Lusine Margaryan

This topic examines how tourism can move beyond minimizing harm toward actively supporting ecological restoration, community wellbeing, and more reciprocal relations between visitors and places. The project may explore how regenerative tourism contributes to the long-term renewal of ecosystems, flourishing of places and local livelihoods.

Tourism-biodiversity nexus

Supervisor: Assistant Professor Lusine Margaryan

This topic explores the relationship between tourism and biodiversity in nature-based destinations, in light of the global biodiversity crisis. The project may examine how tourism depends on biodiversity, how it affects ecosystems and species, and how tourism development can better support conservation and regeneration.

Connecting nature-based tourism, outdoor recreation and protected area management

Supervisor: Professor Peter Fredman

This topic focuses on collaboration between protected area managers, tourism businesses, and outdoor recreation organizations. The project may identify challenges, opportunities, and good practices for supporting responsible recreation and the regeneration of natural areas.

Trends, motivations and constraints to outdoor recreation participation

Supervisor: Professor Peter Fredman

This topic examines patterns of outdoor recreation participation in Sweden and the Nordic region. The project may analyse trends, motivations, barriers, and demographic differences to support policy development and improved accessibility.

Nature-based tourism behavior and climate change

Supervisor: Professor Maria Lexhagen

This topic examines how climate change influences tourist attitudes, motivations, perceptions, and behaviour in nature-based tourism. The project may focus on consumer responses to sustainability and changing expectations of tourism products and businesses.

Destination development, marketing and management

Supervisor: Professor Maria Lexhagen

This topic focuses on key issues in destination development, such as collaboration, branding, innovation, digitalization, and competitiveness. The project may examine these issues from a business perspective or through a broader destination management lens.

Popular culture tourism – studies of fans and destinations

Supervisor: Professor Maria Lexhagen

This topic explores tourism linked to film, literature, music, and other forms of popular culture. The project may examine fan motivations, destination impacts, brand development, and the role of digital media in shaping travel experiences.

Digital marketing and consumer behaviour in tourism

Supervisor: Professor Maria Lexhagen

This topic examines how digitalization is reshaping tourism marketing and consumer behaviour. The project may focus on themes such as social media, AI, smart tourism, virtual tourism, and technology-enhanced experiences.

Tourism’s labour geographies

Supervisor: Associate Professor Kristina Zampoukos

This topic explores work, labour relations, and employment conditions in tourism. The project may focus on areas such as platform work, labour migration, workplace inequalities, gendered work, or the changing role of tourism workers.

Accessible and inclusive nature-based tourism and outdoor recreation

Supervisor: Associate Professor Sandra Wall-Reinius

This topic explores access to natural and recreational environments, especially for older people and people with physical disabilities. The project may focus on inclusive planning, accessibility measures, and the role of nature in health and wellbeing.

Artificial environments in tourism

Supervisor: Associate Professor Sandra Wall-Reinius

This topic examines the development of artificial leisure environments such as indoor ski slopes and aquatic centres. The project may explore their implications for accessibility, sustainability, travel behaviour, and the relationship between artificial and natural tourism settings.

Tourism, resistance, and social movements

Supervisor: Associate Professor Sandra Wall-Reinius

This topic explores criticism, resistance, and local responses to tourism development. The project may analyse how such responses are expressed and how they relate to place, overtourism, and theories of social movements.

Tourism and the cultural and creative industries

Supervisor: Associate Professor Daniel Laven

This topic explores the relationship between tourism and cultural and creative industries, with particular relevance to Östersund as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The project may examine sustainable food systems, tourism development, and regional attractiveness.

Tourism and peacebuilding in contested spaces

Supervisor: Associate Professor Daniel Laven

This topic examines tourism’s potential to contribute to peacebuilding in regions affected by conflict. The project may explore how tourism creates spaces for dialogue, coexistence, and social transformation in contested settings.