Kia ora tātou colleagues, students, alumni and friends

In this edition, we highlight research excellence,the BCom TOUR Major orientation, a new club, staff, student and alumni happenings as well as other TOURist connections.

From the Tourism Management group: Christian, Eerang, Karen, Ian, Ina, Mondher and Luisa (editor).

Front row Kelvin Davis (L), Eerang Park (R) and the TOUR 301 class.

TOUR301 Tourism Policy and Planning sets out to develop student’s skills and knowledge as if they were a policy analyst at the Ministry for Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE). The course simulates a real policy environment of government, asking the students through scenario planning to construct a series of tourism strategies set in 2039 based upon political ideology. 

Guest speakers in 2019 included Charlie Ives (RTONZ), Kevin Ward (Airports Association), Richard Davies (MBIE), Chris Roberts (Tourism Industry Aotearoa), Judy Chen (Tourism Export Council), Harete Hipango (National Party) and Paul Yeo (Tourism New Zealand).  Each speaker emphasised their vision for the future of New Zealand tourism, trends, products and risks within a sustainable tourism framework

As part of the assessment process, students presented a series of ideas about the future to Hon Kelvin Davis MP, Minister of Tourism on 8th April. These ideas included a stronger focus on authenticity and cultural experiences, a 100% Aotearoa brand, infrastructure investment, a premium brand, being carbon negative, a floating tunnel between the north and south islands, driverless hire cars and a multicultural strategy for museums.

As part of the university’s orientation week, the Tourism Management Group hosted a welcome event for our new students. This provided students with the opportunity to get to know their classmates and the tourism group in an informal setting before the lecture routine begins.

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What is the future of luxury? What is premium pricing? And what is the state of New Zealand’s luxury lodge sector? These where some of the questions asked at a luxury symposium hosted by the Tourism Management Group on the 6th November 2018.

Speakers included Professor Sheryl Kimes who is the world’s leading authority in hotel Revenue Management and a Professor at the Cornell Hotel School, USA. Dr Tracy Harkison  a Senior Lecturer in Hospitality Management at AUT with a PhD on luxury and Associate Professor Ian Yeoman who constructed four scenarios about the future. The symposium was based upon a collection of papers published in a special issue of the Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management. Copies of the presentations are available via dropbox.

The two foodaholic tourism academics, Dr Eerang Park and Dr Ian Yeoman at School of Management edited a new book, Food Tourism in Asia (Springer, 2019) with their Australian noodle fanatic tourism academic, Dr Sangkyun Kim.

The new book takes readers on a delicious journey through Asia and sheds light on the depth and breadth of the food and food tourism in Asia explored by the renown 18 academics in the world. The book presents various cases from far East to South Asia and discusses the historical, cultural and social aspects and meanings of food in the region.

The book launch, ‘Noodles and Rice’ will be hosted in Rutherford House on the 17th August as part of 2019 Visa Wellington On a Plate.

TMAG 2015 (L-R) Judy Chen, Dave Bamford, David Wilks, Doug Pearce, Chris Roberts, Dawn Muir and Ray Salter.

Dave Bamford was the inaugural chair of the Tourism Management Advisory Group (TMAG) which was established in 2008, a position he stepped down from recently. 

Emeritus Prof Doug Pearce has provided a few memories.

"When we set up the TMAG we were looking for a small group of representative stakeholders who could provide us with sound advice and guidance on the development of our programmes.

I had no hesitation in nominating Dave to chair the TMAG. I had worked with him on a variety of projects and knew he had a broad experience in the tourism industry and a wide network of contacts.  But above all I knew he never hesitated about sharing his views openly and honestly, qualities that led to many robust discussions at the TMAG which he chaired with inclusiveness, a lack of formality and a focus on the issues at hand.

One incident in particular comes to mind; we were looking at revising the Tourism Management Group’s mission statement to align it more closely with the Faculty’s increased international orientation and Dave politely reminded us not to forget our key stakeholders, the tourism industry in New Zealand. 

As well as chairing the TMAG Dave was generous with his time and suggestions in giving students careers advice, assisting postgraduate students with their research projects and MCing a number of our functions. I am sure the Group will continue to benefit from his association in the future."

This year students in TOUR230 Visitor Management studied a live event, CubaDupa and formulated strategies for the current issues of the festival: storytelling and sustainability of a free public event. Before the field visit during the CubaDupa weekend, the course incorporated a guest lecture from CubaDupa which was well received by students. Gus Sharp, Chief Executive of the Creative Capital Arts Trust and Drew James (pictured above), Artistic Director of CubaDupa, visited the Pipitea campus and shared their expertise and extensive experience of festival management and community engagement in events.

(L-R) Andy Widyanta (Indonesia), Undhan Sevisari (Indonesia), Khamsavay Pasanchay (Lao, PDR), Sarik Eng (Cambodia)

Our four New Zealand Scholarship students in MTM completed their Master’s journey in New Zealand. They shared their own story of the rewarding journey and achievement with VUW at the Scholarship Completion Ceremony on the 27th of February, and all were excited to return home as tourism leaders.