All the institute’s staff are research experts who disseminate their findings through scientific publications and integrate them into their teaching.

The team primarily focuses on the following areas of research:

• Consumer Studies: Investigating consumer behaviour, perceptions, and experiences with an emphasis on sustainability, the authenticity of tourism products in the cultural sector, and culinary aspects.
• Trend Studies: Analysing travel trends and developments across various areas of tourism.
• Sustainable Destination Development & Management: Understanding the role that sustainability plays at destination level, challenges as well as pathways to create more sustainable destinations for the future. This includes examining implications of climate change.
• Tourism Marketing and Technology: Examining the adoption of new technologies by tourism businesses and organisations to optimise both internal and external business processes.

Our current research projects focus on sustainable tourism development and sustainable destination management, both in Europe and in less developed countries and rural regions.

Moreover, projects explore the impact of climate change on tourism attractions, culinary offerings and restorative experiences, digitalisation of tourism businesses and regions, and the use of AI in tourism.

The bachelor degree programme in Tourism and Leisure Management is housed within the institute.