Our aims

We are proud of our achievements to date and strive to establish the School as the world’s leading centre in its subject group, focusing uniquely on the economic, environmental, social and cultural impact of the broadly defined tourism sector.

This diverse mission, spanning education, academic (curiosity-driven) and strategic (issue-led) research incorporates the following aims:

• To lead the research, education and professional agenda in the development and management of the tourism, hospitality, retail, leisure, sport and event sectors where the major driver of value is the consumer experience through the delivery of sustainable value, profit and growth through excellent service performance linked to economic and social responsibility.
• To develop deeper engagement with businesses and other client organisations to provide education to the professions though Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes and enterprise activity.
• To foster the inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional research opportunities provided by tourism as a subject through the International Centre for Tourism & Hospitality Research, Centre of Event and Sport Research and the John Kent Institute in Tourism initiative e.g. tourism and climate change; tourism and well-being; economic and cultural impact of festivals, events and sport-based activities.
• To capitalise on the unique synergy within the School by recognising the strategic contribution of all tourism sectors as agents of change and development at all geographical levels from global to local community e.g. urban regeneration, rural diversification, destination management, role of mega-events.