Elli Vento

Elli Vento is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF), affiliated with the Business School within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. Her research focuses on well-being tourism, particularly examining social tourism's impact on disadvantaged groups and exploring transformative and regenerative tourism practices. She leads two key projects: 'Transformative tourist experiences – new business opportunities to enhance sustainability in tourism' (2023–2024) and 'Regenerative nature tourism (REGGAE)' (2023–2026).

Her work bridges academic research with practical policy implications, emphasizing inclusionary outcomes and sustainability. Notable contributions include analyzing wellness tourism motivations across markets and evaluating social tourism's role in enhancing family well-being and social equity in Finland. She has collaborated with institutions like the Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organizations (STEA) to study implementation challenges and opportunities in social tourism.

Elli’s publications span peer-reviewed journals (e.g., *Annals of Tourism Research*, *European Journal of Tourism Research*) and edited volumes, including contributions to *Handbook of Social Tourism* and *A Research Agenda for Tourism and Wellbeing*. Her research integrates qualitative and quantitative methods to address tourism’s societal contributions.