A University of Queensland senior academic has been appointed a Fellow of one of the most prestigious global organisations in her field of research.
UQ’s School of Tourism Research Director Professor Sara Dolnicar can now add “Fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism” to her substantial list of achievements.
Professor Dolnicar is the youngest of the Academy’s members worldwide, which is limited to a maximum of 75, and she said the Fellowship was a great honour.
“As most academics, I have had many ups and downs in my career. Being elected as a fellow of the Academy is certainly one of the highlights,’’ Professor Dolnicar said. “I’m humbled to be recognised in this way by the Academy.’’
The Academy was set up in 1988 with the aim of advancing scholarly research and professional investigation of tourism.
It also encourages the application of tourism research findings and advances the international circulation and exchange of knowledge about tourism.
Professor Dolnicar is an ARC Queen Elizabeth II Fellow with UQ and has an extensive background in tourism and social science research.
Her appointment as a Fellow at the Academy recognises her research expertise in the areas of tourism, tourism marketing and social marketing.
Professor Dolnicar’s core research interests are the improvement of market segmentation methodology and the testing and refinement of measures used in social science research.
She has applied her work to tourism and a range of social marketing challenges, including environmental volunteering, foster care and public acceptance of water alternatives.
Professor Dolnicar has co-authored more than 200 refereed papers and is one of the world's most cited tourism researchers.
In 2004, she was awarded the Charles R. Goeldner Article of Excellence Award, the most prestigious international award in tourism research. Professor Dolnicar moved to Australia from her native Austria in 2002 and since then has been awarded eleven Australian Research Council (ARC) grants, including six Discovery grants, three Linkage grants and two Linkage International grants.
She also serves on several editorial boards, including those of the Journal of Travel Research and Annals of Tourism Research.
