On 4 March 2025, Professor Sara Dolnicar, a renowned expert in sustainable tourism and an ARC Australian Laureate Fellow from the School of Business at the University of Queensland, visited The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to deliver an insightful lecture titled “How to Make Environmentally Sustainable Tourism More of an Experience and Less of an Obligation.” The event was attended by the master students from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), as well as members of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT).
Professor Dolnicar, founder of The Low Harm Hedonism Initiative, emphasized the need to transform the perception of sustainable tourism from a mandatory obligation into an enriching experience for travelers. The Low Harm Hedonism Initiative challenges conventional theories about universal drivers of human behavior, proposing that enhancing enjoyment or modifying infrastructure is essential for promoting pro-environmental actions in hedonic contexts. Her presentation highlighted the critical role of engaging tourists in sustainability practices that enhance their overall travel experience while minimizing environmental impact.
Throughout the lecture, Professor Dolnicar explored innovative techniques for influencing tourist behavior, including the use of belief messaging, gamification, modifying infrastructure, and enhancing enjoyment that foster emotional connections to sustainability. She presented case studies illustrating how tourism and hospitality stakeholders have successfully encouraged tourists to adopt more sustainable practices, thereby enhancing both tourist satisfaction and environmental stewardship. The session concluded with lively discussions among students, who expressed enthusiasm for the insights shared and the potential applications of sustainable practices in the tourism industry.
In addition to the lecture, Professor Dolnicar offered one-on-one consultations for SHTM PhD students on 5 March, providing personalized guidance on their research topics related to sustainable tourism. This opportunity allowed students to engage directly with her expertise, further enriching their academic pursuits.
Professor Dolnicar's visit not only enriched the academic discourse on sustainable tourism but also inspired future research initiatives aimed at promoting environmentally responsible travel behaviors.
Professor Dolnicar, founder of The Low Harm Hedonism Initiative, emphasized the need to transform the perception of sustainable tourism from a mandatory obligation into an enriching experience for travelers. The Low Harm Hedonism Initiative challenges conventional theories about universal drivers of human behavior, proposing that enhancing enjoyment or modifying infrastructure is essential for promoting pro-environmental actions in hedonic contexts. Her presentation highlighted the critical role of engaging tourists in sustainability practices that enhance their overall travel experience while minimizing environmental impact.
Throughout the lecture, Professor Dolnicar explored innovative techniques for influencing tourist behavior, including the use of belief messaging, gamification, modifying infrastructure, and enhancing enjoyment that foster emotional connections to sustainability. She presented case studies illustrating how tourism and hospitality stakeholders have successfully encouraged tourists to adopt more sustainable practices, thereby enhancing both tourist satisfaction and environmental stewardship. The session concluded with lively discussions among students, who expressed enthusiasm for the insights shared and the potential applications of sustainable practices in the tourism industry.
In addition to the lecture, Professor Dolnicar offered one-on-one consultations for SHTM PhD students on 5 March, providing personalized guidance on their research topics related to sustainable tourism. This opportunity allowed students to engage directly with her expertise, further enriching their academic pursuits.
Professor Dolnicar's visit not only enriched the academic discourse on sustainable tourism but also inspired future research initiatives aimed at promoting environmentally responsible travel behaviors.
| Topics | Research |
|---|---|
| Research Units | Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism |
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