Joanne Connell

Dr. Joanne Connell is Associate Professor in Sustainability and Tourism at the University of Exeter Business School, where she serves as Director of Postgraduate Research and Programme Manager for the Master's degree in International Tourism Management. With a career spanning over a decade since joining in 2011, she operates at the intersection of sustainability, inclusivity, and health in tourism contexts.

• Key roles: Director of Postgraduate Research, Programme Manager for MA International Tourism Management
• Collaboration networks: Alzheimer’s Society, Historic Royal Palaces, National Trust
• Research themes: Age-friendly tourism, Cognitive impairment accommodations, Sustainable tourism
• Major publications: Co-editor of Tourism: A Modern Synthesis (5th ed) and The Routledge Handbook of Events

Research Focus

Her interdisciplinary research bridges tourism, health, and business engagement. Notable projects include the £1.9m UKRI-funded ENLIVEN project (2022-2024) examining nature-based therapies for elderly with cognitive impairments, and development of dementia-inclusive guides for tourism businesses and heritage sites. She has contributed extensively to understanding:

• Sustainable tourism frameworks
• Ageing visitor economy challenges
• Accessibility in heritage and natural sites
• Business strategies for older demographics
• Leisure geography in modern societies
• Interdisciplinary event studies

Publication Legacy

As co-editor of the seminal Routledge Handbook of Events (2nd ed, 2024) and author/editor of 10+ books, her work spans:

• Event studies methodology
• Tourism-health intersections
• Leisure sociology
• Urban event planning
• Knowledge transfer in tourism
• Policy development for inclusive tourism