Tourism Research
In 2023, Patrick joined the Tourism Department at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia.
British Columbia (BC) has developed a reputation as a national leader of rural tourism innovation as BC's rural and remote communities have increasingly turned to tourism as an economic diversification and regional resilience strategy.
Patrick leads a long-term research program which engages with a broad group of tourism stakeholders from across rural British Columbia to co-create sustainable tourism development. The research aids policy and planning for a diverse BC rural tourism ecosystem and supports resilient rural communities.
Tourism Themes
There is a growing interest in 'Creative Tourism' - activities that occur at the nexus of creative economies and tourism. Our research looks at small towns in BC, such as Ashcroft (pictured) and Lytton to see how they unify arts, culture, and tourism for sustainable local development.
Working with Indigenous Tourism BC we help infuse innovation in community-led tourism developments and by sharing leading examples and best practices across communities we also help illustrate innovation in BC's growing and important Indigenous tourism sector.
Patrick has been a long-term collaborator with tourism scholars on understanding change in tourism ecosystems over time. He is currently co-editing a special issue of Tourism Geographies (with Piotr Niewiadomski) on 'Sustainability Transitions and Tourism'.
Research Projects
Following on from his recent hosting of the 8th International Conference on Climate, Tourism and Recreation, Patrick is producing a number of academic publications and policy briefs on climate change and tourism in western and northern Canada.
Braiding Knowledge Canada
Courtney Mason, Professor at TRU, is leading the new British Columbia Parks and Protected Areas Research Knowledge Hub.
Patrick is joining the endeavour as an expert on tourism in rural and remote places and will work with Indigenous rightsholders and allies in British Columbia's parks and protected areas.
'Arctification' in Tourism
Patrick is leading a comparative research project examining the emerging concept of 'Arctification' in the context of tourism in northern Canada.
Working with community partners in northern Canada and academic partners from the International Polar Tourism Research Network, the project aims to improve policy around sustainable tourism development in northern Canada.
Research Assistants
RACHEL Henderson
Degree: MA in Sustainable Leisure Management
Interests: Sustainable Rural Development, Creative Tourism, Nature-Based Tourism, Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Bio: Throughout my life, I have lived and worked within several tourism-related environments across Manitoba and Alberta. With my research background in Geography, I have always been interested in place identities of rural/remote regions, and sustainable practices for place-based development. In order to broaden my understanding of sustainable tourism practices, I moved to BC to study at Vancouver Island University, where I am happy to be conducting research that combines my curiosities of arts/culture, with my interest in sustainable rural tourism.
ELEANOR Glendale
Major: Bachelor of Tourism Management
Interests: Sustainable Eco-tourism, Cultural Integrated Tourism, Protected Areas and Animals, all in my traditional territory.
Bio: I am from the Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation, which means I am from Knight Inlet and grew up on reserve on Harbledown Island.
I love my family’s traditional ways and want to integrate that into my tourism business that I will have in my homelands. I love my culture and the area, and would like to work, live and protect it so I can pass that onto the next generation.