Visitor Economy Research Group
Who We Are
The Visitor Economy Research Group (VERG) harnesses the research energies of a number of colleagues, both early career and well established, who are working in the areas of tourism, mobilities, hospitality, heritage, events, sport and leisure.
Through our research activities, VERG provides insight into and deepens understanding of the visitor economy in diverse contexts, both locally and internationally, and from a range of perspectives and multi-disciplinary approaches.
Our members come from different research areas with interests in destination management, branding and place making; culture and heritage management; tourism marketing; migration, equality and social justice; tourism and hospitality labour; sustainability and social entrepreneurship; events management, consumer culture and consumer behaviour.
We run a number of undergraduate programmes (BA International Tourism Management, BSc Events Management and BA Sports Business Management) as well as postgraduate programmes MSc International Hospitality Management (MSc International Tourism Management, MA Culture and Heritage Management, MSc Events Management, MSc International Sports Business Management
If you are interested in joining us and/or exploring research collaboration opportunities, please get in touch with Dr. Agnieszka Rydzik at arydzik@lincoln.ac.uk.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Research at the University of Lincoln is supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are an urgent call for action to tackle some of the world's most pressing problems, now and into the future.
Research Students
A list of research students of the Visitor Economy Research Group
Publications and Scholarly Activity
View the latest publications by members of the Visitor Economy Research Group.
Our Research
Out of War Experiences, Hope for the Future (WE-Hope)
Funded by Creative Europe and running 2019-2022, this project aims to promote social inclusion in Europe. University of Lincoln is leading the project, with five partners and three associate partners. We are collecting oral testimony for an online archive which will form the inspiration for the creation of a commissioned art installation, acting as a focus for celebrating inclusion. (Project Lead: Prof Heather Hughes)
The International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive
The IBCC Digital Archive is a substantial repository on the bombing war in Europe between 1939-1945, which is curated and managed within the Department of Tourism, Languages and Marketing. It is connected with Lincoln’s newest heritage attraction, the International Bomber Command Centre. The Archive team has a strong interest in the interpretation of difficult heritage and led the development of the exhibition at the IBCC. (Project Lead: Prof Heather Hughes)
Heritage at Risk and Wellbeing
Funded by Historic England, this is a project to understand the impact on volunteers with their involvement in ‘heritage at risk’ projects by conducting interviews and surveys across ten sites in England. We will develop a toolkit to understand the nature of wellbeing impacts and how Historic England can enhance the benefits to volunteers. (Project Lead: Prof Heather Hughes)
Migration, Inter-Connectivity and Regional Development Network (MICaRD)
Funded by the Regional Studies Association (RSA) and led by Dr. Agnieszka Rydzik, MICaRD brings together scholars, policymakers and practitioners across Europe to provide a forum for debating current and emerging issues on European economic migration, foster collaboration and expand research opportunities.
Inclusive Boston (2018-2020)
Funded by the UK government, this project aimed to promote social cohesion and inclusion in Boston communities. The project involved various stakeholders, including Lincolnshire Community and Volunteer Service, Boston Borough Council, community leaders and policymakers. (Dr. Agnieszka Rydzik and Liz Price)
Lincoln Christmas Market Project
This ongoing project involves conducting research for the Lincoln City Council on visitor satisfaction at, and the economic impact of, the Lincoln Christmas Market (Farhan Ahmed, Dr. Martin Elliott-White).
Tourism Markets Diversification: Evidence from Qatar
With Qatar placing its tourism sector as being key to diversifying its economy, this project seeks to boost the number of tourists in order to support sustainable development for the region, identifying support required by the Government, supplying a research evidence-based training module for Qatari tourism staff as well as a Government White Paper. (Project Lead: Dr Shrabani Saha)
A Learning Community: An Exploration of the Lincolnshire Tripod
Dr Georgiana Els has been awarded funding from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) for an eighteen-month long Collaborative Enhancement project developed in collaboration with Mr. Chris Jackson from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU).
Celebrating Sincil Bank – Events Training for Community Engagement
A collaboration developed between Dr Georgiana Els and Lincoln City Foundation (LCF) to assist volunteers with planning and delivering community events in the Sincil Bank area of Lincoln.
Lincolnshire Tourism Observatory
An initiative within the Department of Tourism, Languages and Marketing to provide expertise, produce high-quality research and generate evidence-driven analysis of tourism-related data with the aim of supporting the Lincolnshire visitor economy, informing policy debates and assisting local stakeholders with data-informed decision making.
Understanding Intergenerational differences in visitors’ sustainable behaviours
Dr. Samira Zare’s project explores intergenerational differences in sustainability-related behaviours within the broader leisure context to inform both theory and practice about the implications of such behavioural differences
Using cultural capital for acculturation
Dr Connie Mak’s study draws on the sociological perspective of practice theories to explore the ‘process’ of how educated and affluent immigrants from the Mainland China adapt to their new life and identities in Hong Kong through the consumption and acquisition of cultural capital
Hospitality, Now!
Dr Agnieszka Rydzik is launching a campaign ‘Hospitality, Now!’. Working in collaboration with a range of stakeholders, the aim is to change the culture of student employment in the hospitality sector. The campaign is funded by the QR Policy Support Fund and emerged from a research project on student-workers on zero-hour contracts in UK hospitality.
Reimagining Lincolnshire
Postdoctoral researcher Dr V. Araj and Prof H. Hughes, together with project volunteers, continue to uncover fascinating stories from this region that have been neglected or purposely forgotten. For Black History Month, they launched Lincoln’s first Black History Trail, which will soon be available as a downloadable, self-guided tour.
Lincoln’s engineering heritage
Dr Abi Hunt, Prof Heather Hughes and Tom Kitchen have been involved in an initiative to preserve vital collections of papers, films and objects relating to the history of Ruston’s, Lincoln’s most prominent engineering manufacturer. The city’s industrial heritage is increasingly being recognised as an important part of the city’s visitor offer.
We-Hope (Creative Europe)
Our ‘modern cantastoria’ was premiered at the Frequency Festival in Lincoln in October. Sadly, due to Covid, none of our five project partners from across Europe was able to attend. We are now entering the last phase of the project, which will culminate with a celebration in a partner city in September 2022.
IBCC Digital Archive (Update)
The archive continues to grow and attract recognition. We recently became members of the Community Archives and Heritage Group. Our partnership with the International Bomber Command Centre is an important one strategically for the University, as will be underlined in February 2022 with the signing of a new, twenty-year agreement.
Sense of Belonging in Sports Business Management
Sense of belonging on Sports Business Management programmes – this research by Prof. Hanya Pielichaty examines the experiences of students studying white, male-dominated degree programmes in connection with belonging.
The Good Student Employer Charter
The Good Student Employer Charter was launched in November 2023 and is currently open and free for businesses to join. Based on our research into employment practices around zero-hours contracts and student-worker experiences, Hospitality, Now! has developed a set of good practice principles and pledges for employers.
Working from the pub - co-working as a diversification opportunity for rural pubs
Dr Jane Deville, Liz Price and Dr Victoria Ellis-Vowles teamed up with Georgina Edwards from Plunkett UK, Prof Gary Bosworth form Northumbria University and Dr Claire Marham from Nottingham Trent University in a project funded by NICRE to investigate the potential for working from the pub as a diversification strategy.
‘Developing destination brand love: An intersectionality perspective’
“Dr. Abigail Ehidiamen and Dr. Connie Mak’s study focuses on understanding marginalised tourists’ experiences through the lens of women from ethnic minority groups in the UK. In particular, the research critically examines how the intersected identities of gender, race, and social class influence and shape the development of emotional bonds, attachments, and love for a destination brand”.
University of Lincoln Professor calls for societal change at parliament
In September 2023 Professor Hanya Pielichaty, was invited to give oral evidence (a witness) to the House of Commons Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) Select Committee as part of the Women’s Sport Inquiry. This inquiry began on the 15th December 2022 and we are currently awaiting the final report.
Reboot – Hospitality Workplaces Navigating Technological Change
Dr Agnieszka Rydzik has been awarded the British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship to examine the ways in which technology is transforming hospitality workplaces and how workers exercise agency in order to anticipate, mitigate and manage workforce implications.
Research Seminars and Public Engagements
Find out about research seminars and public engagement activities from the Visitor Economy Research Group.
Connect with Us
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Lincoln International Business School, University of Lincoln, Brayford Wharf East, Lincoln, LN5 7AT, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1522 835509 | Email: libs@lincoln.ac.uk