معرفی
Alexios Defner is a Professor of Urban Planning and Leisure at the Department of Spatial Planning, Urban Planning and Regional Development Engineering (TMPPA) at the University of Thessaly. He has served as Director of the Laboratory of Tourism Planning, Research and Policy since 2003 and Director of the Interdepartmental Postgraduate Program 'Planning and Development of Tourism and Culture' since 2014. Previously, he was Director of the Postgraduate Program 'Urban Planning-Spatial Planning' from 2009-2014.
- PhD in Planning Studies, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of London (1995)
- MSc in Regional and Urban Planning Studies, LSE, University of London (1982)
- Diploma in Architectural Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (1981)
Professor Defner's research focuses on the intersection of urban planning, cultural development, and tourism. His work explores how cultural planning, leisure activities, and time-space dimensions contribute to sustainable urban development. He has extensive experience in developing place marketing strategies and examining the relationship between cultural institutions, urban regeneration, and city identity. His research often addresses the challenges of Mediterranean cities and Greek urban contexts specifically.
His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on place branding, city marketing, and the integration of cultural elements into urban planning. His work examines how creative clusters, landscapes, and cultural institutions contribute to city identity and branding, with particular attention to Greek cities and regions. He investigates sensory landscapes, creative industries, and the role of special events in shaping urban identities and tourism development.
- Inclusion in Who's Who in the World (2010/2011/2012)
- Inclusion in Who's Who in Greece (2010/2011/2012)
Professor Defner has supervised numerous postgraduate students and has been involved in various research programs related to urban planning and leisure planning. He has held leadership positions in numerous research projects funded by the European Commission, Greek government agencies, and local municipalities. His projects have focused on strategic planning, tourism development, and place marketing initiatives across Greece, including strategic marketing plans for cities like Larissa, Kozani, and Volos.
He directs the Laboratory of Tourism Planning, Research and Policy (ETOUSEP) at the University of Thessaly, which conducts research on tourism planning, cultural heritage, and place marketing. The laboratory has been instrumental in developing strategic marketing plans for various Greek municipalities and has participated in numerous European research projects related to cultural tourism, sustainable development, and urban regeneration.
