Into the Future – Leisure, Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality
As we look ahead, the balance between work, leisure, and sustainability is reshaping the way people live and travel. The accelerating pace of climate change, global disruptions, and technological advancements is forcing societies to rethink how they engage with their environments, communities, and economies. In alignment with JCU’s Research Direction 8, this flagship explores how tourism, hospitality, and leisure industries can drive nature-positive economic transitions while ensuring resilience against external shocks such as climate change, resource depletion, and socio-economic crises.
The sustainability of travel and hospitality is now a critical focus, as the sector must adapt to increasing demands for responsible, regenerative, and circular tourism models. Researchers in this flagship bring international expertise from across the Asia-Pacific region, critically assessing emerging trends and challenges in leisure, travel, and tourism. Key research questions include:
- What are the emerging forms of leisure and travel in a rapidly changing world?
- How can tourism contribute to sustainable regional development, integrating responsible, circular, and regenerative models?
- What approaches and innovations can build a more resilient tourism and hospitality sector in the face of disruptions?
- What talent and skills will be required for the future workforce in these industries?
- How can destinations adapt and remain competitive while ensuring long-term environmental and economic sustainability?
Through evidence-based research, industry partnerships, and policy engagement, this flagship aims to position tourism, leisure, and hospitality as key drivers of sustainable economic transformation. It examines how businesses, governments, and communities can leverage innovation, sustainability, and resilience-building strategies to future-proof the sector.
Key Objectives
- Investigating new and evolving mindsets about leisure and travel to identify sustainable tourism markets and hospitality practices.
- Exploring innovation in leisure, travel, and tourism to enhance sector resilience against climate change, natural disasters, and socio-economic shifts.
- Examining the future workforce requirements, ensuring the industry is equipped with the right skills and talent to support sustainable and regenerative tourism.
By integrating climate-conscious strategies, circular economy principles, and sustainable tourism policies, this flagship supports JCU’s Research Direction 8, ensuring that tourism and hospitality evolve as resilient, inclusive, and nature-positive economic sectors for the future.