Christy Hehir

Dr Christy Hehir is a Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Events at the University of Surrey, serving as Programme Director for Tourism. She holds a PhD in Environmental Psychology and Tourism, focusing on how tourism can advance conservation efforts. Her affiliations include the Environmental Psychology Research Group (EPRG) and the Centre for Sustainability and Wellbeing in the Visitor Economy.

Her research explores the intersection of tourism and environmental sustainability, particularly in polar regions. Key areas include measuring tourism’s impact on pro-environmental behavior, developing biosecurity campaigns like Polar Alien Hunters, and informing Antarctic tourism policy through projects like GUIDE-BEST and ADAPT. She collaborates with international bodies like the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to shape Antarctic tourism frameworks.

Teaching focuses on sustainable tourism management, leadership, and policy. She currently supervises PhD student Rhoslyn Davies and welcomes new doctoral candidates. Her work bridges academia and practice, emphasizing community-engaged research to maximize real-world impact.

Publications address topics such as moral disengagement in tourism marketing, youth expedition outcomes, and climate change adaptation strategies for polar tourism. She actively communicates research through podcasts and media engagement, advocating for ethical and sustainable tourism practices.