ECOTOURISM AND HERITAGE TOURISM
- To explore contemporary natural and cultural resources use, attitudes and behaviors among visitors and residents.
- To monitor and manage socio-cultural, environmental, and economic impacts of ecotourism and heritage tourism on destination communities.
- To provide research based expertise for sustainable long-term planning and management of ecotourism and heritage tourism in developed as well as developing countries.
- Ecotourism and heritage tourism participation and demand
- Attitudes and behaviors among visitors and residents
- Stakeholder use and development of community based ecotourism and heritage tourism
- Parks and protected areas management
- Socio-cultural, environmental, and economic impacts of ecotourism and heritage tourism
- Ecotourism and heritage tourism planning for sustainable communities
- Community involvement in natural and cultural resource planning and management
- Planning and management of World Heritage Sites
- Local, national, and international policy context for ecotourism and heritage tourism development
- Transforming Community Based Natural Resources Management Education in Southern Africa (2009-2012)
- Partnership to Strengthen Teaching, Research, Service and Faculty Development in Tourism Management at Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa (2009-2012)
- Zambia Tourism Study (2010-2011)
- Florida's Tourist-Related Tax Expenditure for Historic Preservation (2006)
- Kazakhstan Ecotourism Management Program (2006)
- Parks and Recreation Master Plan for Putnam County, Florida (2006)
- Communication Behaviors in Outdoor Recreation: Mono Basin Scenic Area, California (2003)
- Developing a Sustainable Tourism Plan for Jackson County, Florida (2003)
- Visitor Use Monitoring Study: Pacific North West (Region 6): Oregon (Malheur National Forest, Mt. Hood National Forest, Umatilla National Forest, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest), and Washington (Colville National Forest) (2003)
- National Visitor Use Monitoring Study: Willamette National Forest, Oregon (2003)
- Understanding Information Needs and Communication Behaviors: Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests, California (2002)
- Heritage Tourism Study: St. Johns County, Florida (2001)
- Needs Assessment for a New Community Park: West Boynton, Florida (2001)
- Developing an Agri-Tourism Program in Live Oak, Florida (2001)
- Outdoor Recreation Needs Assessment for Florida: Visitors and Residents (2000)
- Florida State Park Satisfaction Survey (1999)
- Market Opportunities for Ecotourism in the Mayport Area of Northeast Florida (1998)
- Monitoring Camper Reactions to the Presence of Pets in Florida State Parks (1998)
- Florida Park Management Issues: Survey of Campers (1996)
- Florida Outdoor Recreation Survey (1992)
- Graduate Student Research
- Sample Reports
Dr. Brijesh Thapa has completed projects that examine various topics related to tourism and natural & cultural resources management from demand and supply perspectives in Florida, U.S., and globally. Basically his research is focused on residents and visitors so that effective policies can be implemented to protect natural and cultural resources, provide economic benefits to residents, and enhance visitor experience in protected areas and tourist destinations. He has made significant contribution to the body of literature on specific topics, and his research findings are tools for managers and policy makers to effectively manage visitors, residents and cultural & natural resources in a sustainable manner. Currently, he has received two USAID funded projects for three years to build and enhance Human Resource Capacity for the tourism industry in South Africa, and transform Community Based Natural Resource Management Education in the Southern Africa region.
- Local communities and protected areas: Social dimensions of pro-environmental engagement in Retezat National Park, Romania (Natalia Buta, Ph.D. Research: 2010)
- Reconstructing stakeholder perspectives of wilderness designation in Everglades National Park, Florida (Tinelle Bustam, Ph.D. Research: 2009)
- Stakeholder perspectives on the potential for community-based ecotourism development and support for the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in Botswana (Naomi Moswete, Ph.D. Research: 2009)
- Household participation, resource dependency and diversification: A livelihoods assessment in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Nepal (Peter Parker, Ph.D. Research: 2009)
- Integration of sense of place into recreation planning and management in Ocala National Forest, Florida (Nam-Yun Kil, Ph.D. Research: 2008)
- The understanding of rural Indonesian culture as a means of developing tourism through reflexive photography (Ignatius Cayhanto, M.S. Research: 2008)
- Stakeholder perspectives on the Pitons Management Area in St. Lucia: Potential for sustainable Tourism development (Lorraine Nicholas, Ph.D. Research: 2007)
- Connection to nature: The development of a measurement scale (Lisa Pennisi, Ph.D. Research: 2007)
- Motivational factors and decisions to volunteer in the Florida Park Service (Robert Wilson, Ph.D. Research: 2005)
- Tourism in a rural Ugandan village: Impacts, local meaning and implications for development (Andrew Lepp, Ph.D. Research: 2004)
- The understanding of motivations, preferences and constraints of recreation in a rural Costa Rican community (Allison Hayes, M.S. Research: 2004)
- An examination of service quality indicators as a predictor of customer satisfaction for US forest service recreationists (Sarah Farmer, M.S. Research: 2004)
- Relationship of motivations, decision making, and satisfaction in museum visitor behavior (Bethany England, M.S. Research: 2003)
- Visitors’ perceptions of the risk of recreating in bear habitat (Brian Burket, M.S. Research: 2002)
- Tourism, environment and technology: An expert system application of an environmental rating system (Ferit Karakaya, M.S. Research: 1997)
- High school students' interests in environmental education and outdoor adventure recreation (Joanne Duff, M.S. Research: 1995)
- Opinions and preferences or Rocky Mountain National Park visitors toward alternative transportation modes (Lori Zavitz, M.S. Research: 1995)
- Adventure-based outdoor recreation's effect on environmental concern (Eric Hothem, M.S. Research: 1993)
- Graduate Student Research (All Program Areas)