Research
| Research Fields | Specialisations | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Approaches to Tourism | Tourism Philosophy and Culture |
The development of the study of tourism and hospitality in terms of critical approaches and as a method of social inquiry has become central to understanding the phenomenon. This specialist research area at La Trobe incorporates adopting new, innovative and, at times, controversial approaches to research and the examination of the philosophy of tourism, identity and nostalgia. |
| Tourism and Media |
Popular media has become a central aspect of the tourism experience of the 21st Century. In the late 1990s, La Trobe staff were among the first to seriously research film-induced tourism, and continue to lead the world in this field. This includes the study of tourism and fictional movies, television series, genres such as the Western and film noir, along with documentaries and travel shows. We also examine other elements of popular media, including literature, travel writing and are moving in to social media. |
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| Education/Teaching and Learning/Training |
Research into tourism and hospitality education is crucial. For many years, the sector has led the tertiary education field in terms of experiential (now called ‘authentic’) learning, which staff at La Trobe have been researching. Post graduate student experiences, motivations and career paths also receive attention in our research. However, vocational based education is also crucial, with specialists researching the effects of VET teacher qualifications and experience in the educational process. Investigating Postgraduate Student Expectations: A Comparative Analysis [PDF 24KB] Hotel Management Education in Bhutan: Teaching Sustainable Principles [PDF 107KB] |
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| Hospitality and Events | Food and Wine |
Food and wine are integral to travel and tourism, but are also separate from the tourism industry and need to be treated as such. The La Trobe hospitality team has expertise in the study of ethnic restaurants, gastronomy and the culture of food, ‘green’ hospitality, food intolerances and tourism and the general service experience. |
| Accommodation/Hotels |
Hotels are a significant player in the tourism and hospitality industry, and we have been studying important aspects of hotel sustainability and the environmental impacts and issues in hospitality. Hotel Management Education in Bhutan: Teaching Sustainable Principles [PDF 107KB] |
|
| Festivals and Events |
Melbourne often claims to be the country’s ‘Events Capital’, and with a heavily loaded calendar, the state of Victoria hosts hundreds of festivals and events. Understanding the success factors of festivals such as comedy festivals and community based events is crucial, and an aspect of ongoing research at La Trobe. The environmental move to ‘green’ events is also being studied, along with film festivals, which also ties this to the tourism and media specialisation. |
|
| Business Events and Conventions |
The successful management of business events and conventions is an area of specialisation we are currently developing. |
|
| Community Development | Community Development |
As one tourism leader commented in a personal conversation, ‘it all comes back to the community’. La Trobe tourism researchers have worked with local communities in order to assist them in their understanding as to whether tourism can provide the development they desire. This work is based on over ten years of research into community wellbeing, host community impacts, regional events, the contribution of rail trails, urban communities and heritage. |
| Regional Tourism |
Linked to Community Development, but sufficiently different to warrant its own area of specialisation is that of regional tourism. La Trobe researchers have worked on the motivations of tourists to regional areas, regional tourism marketing, regional events, regional food, the value of rail trails and cycle tourism. Cycling in Regional Communities: A Longitudinal Study of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, Victoria, Australia [PDF 24KB] |
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| Tourism Management and Marketing | Tourism Marketing (Destinations and Products), Motivations and Image |
La Trobe has international expertise in the study of destination image and competitiveness, film tourism and destination imaging, attractions, wine tourism and heritage marketing. |
| Environmental and Social Relationships |
While environmental research is incorporated in to many of our other specialisations (such as Community Development), we have expertise in researching environmental impacts in hospitality, public land management, multi-use trails, green events and green hospitality. |
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| Tourism Consumer Psychology and Choice Behaviour | An understanding of how and why tourism consumers think, feel, behave, and make choice decisions is a critical need for effective policy development. | |
| Tourism Management |
In terms of tourism management, the team has undertaken research in to resort development, entrepreneurship, and crisis management. We also study training and career paths within the tourism and hospitality industry. |
|
| Tourism Destination Competitiveness |
The global tourism industry has become a very competitive sector of the world’s economy. Managing the benefits and impacts of tourism requires a deep understanding of the factors which drive destination competitiveness and sustainability. |
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| Emerging Fields |
Battlefield Tourism |
