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Centre for Sustainability and Wellbeing in the Visitor Economy
We are developing critical evidence to inform public and private governance of the visitor economy, in the UK and globally.
Research aims
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We strive to deliver research and teaching which drives inspiration for an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable society with a particular focus on the transport, tourism, hospitality and events industries. With a truly interdisciplinary group of academics, we work with intergovernmental organisations, industry and NGOs. We focus on the following key areas:
- Sustainability evidence-based policy making
- Industry’s acceptance of responsibility for sustainable development
- Sustainable development and entrepreneurship
- Sustainable and efficient transportation
- Sustainability marketing, product design and communication.
Research projects
SusTPol (Sustainable Tourism evidence-informed Policy)
Principal investigators: Professor Xavier Font, Dr Anna Torres-Delgado
Start date:
End date:
EXPERIENCE - Experiential tourism offer to extend the visitor season
Principal investigator: Professor Xavier Font
Sustainability evidence-based policy making
Principal investigator: Professor Xavier Font
Sustainable and efficient transportation
Principal investigators: Dr Scott Cohen, Dr Andrew Hares
Sustainable change management and corporate responsibility
Principal investigator: Professor Xavier Font
Gender, Entrepreneurship and Social Policy Institute (GESPi)
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The Gender, Entrepreneurship and Social Policy Institute (GESPi) conducts research on how to achieve more sustainable forms of development and how to promote wellbeing through the tourism, hospitality, events and other service sectors. This includes getting a better understanding regarding the role of tourism and the services sectors within communities in enabling the diversification of livelihoods and promoting sustainable entrepreneurship and employment, particularly for marginalised communities, including promoting gender empowerment. We analyse how policy adjustments and stakeholder collaborations can generate positive change and inclusive growth. For more information please see the GESPi website.
Find an expert
![Anke Winchenbach profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2023-10/anke-winchenbach.jpg?itok=zayFzRxt)
Dr Anke Winchenbach
Co-Director of Centre
![Albert Kimbu profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2024-03/31644_Albert%20Kimbu%20-%20Copy.jpg?itok=wlwHpOzk)
Dr Albert Kimbu
Co-Director of Centre
Researchers
![Nicole Cocolas profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-07/nicole-cocolas.jpg?itok=d9zku0oF)
Dr Nicole Cocolas
Lecturer in Transport Management
![Viachaslau Filimonau profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2022-02/viachaslau-filimonau.jpg?itok=09vvYgFy)
Dr Viachaslau Filimonau
Reader in Hospitality Innovation
![Xavier Font profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2023-09/Xavier%20portrait%20Sept%2723%20cropped.jpg?itok=RPyZ267T)
Professor Xavier Font
Professor of Sustainability Marketing
![Eduard Romulus Goean profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2024-02/Eduard%20Romulus%20Goean.jpg?itok=UpvnkVEC)
Eduard Goean
Visiting Professor
![Dr Christy Hehir profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2018-06/christy-hehir.jpg?itok=Dw4DseCk)
Christy Hehir
Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Events (Programme Director for Tourism)
![Nadine Itani profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2024-11/Nadine%20Itani%20head%20photo%202024.jpg?itok=f-426YPr)
Dr Nadine Itani
Programme Leader and Lecturer in Air Transport Management
![Marion Karl profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2023-03/31759_Dr%20Marion%20Karl_%20Senior%20Lec.jpg?itok=YUQYoKbA)
Dr Marion Karl
Senior Lecturer in Tourism Marketing and Management
![James Kennell profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2022-09/james-kennell.jpg?itok=jaI6f1ve)
Dr James Kennell
Head of Surrey Hospitality and Tourism Management and Associate Professor.
![Bora Kim profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2020-09/bora-kim.jpg?itok=58QuzBad)
Dr Bora Kim
Senior Lecturer in Hospitality Management; Director of Studies, SHTM
![Yanning Li profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2018-05/yanning.jpg?itok=1oaGYBl5)
Dr Yanning Li
Senior Lecturer (Assistant Professor) Events, Organisations and Operations
![Pablo Pereira-Doel profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2024-10/WATER181024-1125%20-%20Copy.jpg?itok=z1ZE1FBR)
Dr Pablo Pereira Doel
Director of Undergraduate Hospitality Programmes; Human Insight Lab co-director; Sustainability fellow and Water programme co-lead at the Institute for Sustainability; Visiting Fellow, Center for Tourism Research at Wakayama University (Japan)
![Manuel Alector Ribeiro profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2018-09/manuel-alector.jpg?itok=Vm3ioYQz)
Dr Alector Ribeiro
Associate Professor in Tourism Management
![Nikolas Thomopoulos profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2019-09/nikolas-thomopoulos.jpg?itok=ZlNoiWYP)
Dr Nikolas Thomopoulos
Associate Professor in Transport
![Xuan (Lorna) Wang profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2018-01/lorna-wang.jpg?itok=2nN1bRXy)
Dr Lorna Wang
Co-Director, Centre for Research on Ageing and Generations, and Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Revenue Management
Postgraduate research students
![Mohammad Ruhual Amin profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2020-11/mohammad-ruhual-amin.jpg?itok=zqGuvy4q)
Ruhual Amin
PhD researcher
![Sara Dalir profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2020-11/sara-dalir.jpg?itok=2k03sH98)
Sara Dalir
PhD researcher
![Rhoslyn Davies profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2022-02/rhoslyn-sherman-davies.jpg?itok=tWPrNJOm)
Roz Davies
Postgraduate Research Student
![Lori Hoy profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2023-06/Princess%20Buttercup%20%2830%29.jpg?itok=8YiRabky)
Lori Hoy
PhD researcher
![Mohamed Nageh Ibrahim profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2022-09/mohamed-ibrahim.jpg?itok=wiUT2OnV)
Mohamed Ibrahim
PhD researcher
![Yuting Jiang profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2019-12/yuting-jiang.jpg?itok=oGrrbxzj)
Yuting Jiang
PhD researcher
![Wanwisa Khampanya profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2021-03/wanwisa-khampanya.jpg?itok=mErWki79)
Wanwisa Khampanya
PhD researcher
![Luigina Jessica Montano profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2020-05/luigina-montano.jpg?itok=oaPlMmqo)
Dr Luigina Montano
PhD researcher
![Safina Naz profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2024-03/safina%20naz.jpeg?itok=wsbBfmTS)
Safina Naz
Postgraduate Research Student
![Laurensius Sandro Rero profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2023-10/20201008-DSC_88391_0.jpg?itok=Eb7SAcqJ)
Sandro Rero
Postgraduate Research Student
![](/themes/custom/surrey/assets/dist/img/profile_default_150x150.jpg)
Shoukry Rozek
PhD researcher
![Prosanjit Saha profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2022-10/PhD%20Profile_1.jpg?itok=2WejwFNF)
Prosanjit Saha
PhD researcher
![Bert Smit profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2020-06/huibert-smit.jpg?itok=vGoZi9IM)
Bert Smit
PhD researcher
![Whitney Smith profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2020-11/whitney-smith.jpg?itok=x5YOwo1M)
Whitney Smith
PhD researcher
![Jenny Suno Wu profile image](/sites/default/files/styles/image_150x150_scale_and_crop/public/2020-10/jenny-suno-wu.jpg?itok=qwYDiCuv)
Jenny Suno Wu
PhD researcher