Mark Ewen

personal information

Biography

Special Projects Manager, Programme Delivery

Northtec - Tai Tokerau Wānaga, Northland

New Zealand

 

Senior Visiting Research Fellow, Tourism Hospitality and Events Management Group

University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom

 

Contact details:

Email: mewen@northtec.ac.nz

Phone: +64 9 4703754

 

I grew up in Lyttelton (Whakaraupo), New Zealand and studied education at undergraduate level in Christchurch NZ. I then completed a Masters in Environmental Education at Griffith University in Australia, with a dissertation examining Queensland state ecotourism policy. Following this I moved to the United Kingdom and undertook a PhD. This was completed through Brunel Universitywith fieldwork in Nepal examining issues of sustainable development through tourism in the Annapurna region.

 

Whilst completing my PhD I lectured in aspects of tourism management at the University of Hertfordshire, and subsequently became Head of the Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management Group at the university. During this time I presented papers at various conferences, including those staged by the Royal Geographical Society, the World Cultural Tourism Association, the International Tourism Studies Association, and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. My research and teaching background is in sustainable development and tourism, the development of tourism in less developed areas, the socio-cultural impacts of tourism, tourism and ethics, nature based tourism, environmental education and event management. I am also currently completing a Masters in Teaching and Learning with a dissertation examining the teaching and learning experiences of Chinese and Indian students at a UK university.

 



In January 2009 I returned home to New Zealand and took up a position as Special Projects Manager in Programme Delivery at Northtec – Tai Tokerau Wānaga in Northland, New Zealand. I have retained a strong connection with the University of Hertfordshire in the UK through my appointment as Senior Visiting Research Fellow to the Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management Group.

 

Northland is an area where tourism and hospitality are particularly vital to the local economy. My new position at Northtec – Tai Tokerau Wānaga will involve considerable work with stakeholders in tourism and hospitality in the area. I look forward to being involved in the further sustainable development of tourism in an area with considerable potential across economic, social and cultural contexts.

 

Professional Memberships / Industry Associations

Institute of Travel and Tourism (member)

The Tourism Society (member)

Tourism Concern (member)

World Cultural Tourism Association (Scientific Committee Member)

Association for Event Management Educators (member)

 

 

Research Interests:

Areas of research interest include:

Sustainable development and tourism; Tourism development and management (particularly in less developed areas, or areas with particular socio-cultural issues); Tourism and ethics; Nature based tourism; “Green”/sustainable tourism; Event management

 

Current research areas include:

Sustainable tourism development in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal with Professor Andrew Holden;

Tourism and Power;

Sustainable Development and indigenous tourism development;

Events Management education – with Joel Shahar;

learning and teaching expectations of international (Chinese and Indian) postgraduate students

 

 

Publications

2008+ Current Active Research:

 

“Living in isolation?: Can a localised model of Sustainable Tourism Development survive external pressures? The Case of the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal” Professor Andrew Holden lead author, for journal submission

 

“Events Managers and Events Management Education – Creating Synergies between Industry and Higher Education” with Joel Shahar for journal submission

 

“Learning and Teaching Expectations of International (Chinese and Indian) Students Enrolling in a UK postgraduate University Programme” Masters dissertation research – resulting papers to be conference presented and submitted.

 

“Sustainable Development and Tourism: Indigenous Developments in ‘Glocal’ Environments”In development stage for journal submission (sole author)

 

“Tourism and Power” At a draft stage for journal submission – (also sole author)

 

 

2002-2007 PhD Thesis:

“Sustainable Development Through Tourism: Conflicts Between Theory And Practice. The Case Of The Annapurna Region Of Nepal”

 

2002 Nuffield Foundation

“Tourism and Resource Usage in the Annapurna Region of Nepal” with Prof. Andrew Holden

 

1999 Masters Dissertation

“The 1997 Queensland Ecotourism Plan: A Study of its Status and Efficacy”

 

 

Some RECENT Conference papers

 

2008 International Tourism Studies Association

2^nd Bi-Annual Conference: Shanghai, China

“Education & the Experience: Informing Management

of Events through Informed Higher Education"

 

2007 United Nations WTO (World Tourism Organisation)

Ulysses Conference, UNWTO, Madrid, Spain

“Sustainable Development Through Tourism:

From Policy To Practice At Village Level In Nepal"

 

2007 World Cultural Tourism Association

8^th Annual International Conference Busan, Korea

“Tourism And Cultural Change”

Chaired ‘Sustainable Development’ plenary session

 

2006Royal Geographical Society / IGS

Annual Conference London, United Kingdom

“Sustainable Development and Tourism in the Annapurna”