Marina Novelli

Marina Novelli serves as Professor of Marketing and Tourism at Nottingham University Business School, University of Nottingham, and Director of the Sustainable Travel and Tourism Advanced Research Centre (STTAR-C) since joining in October 2023.

Her academic credentials include a Laurea cum laude and PhD from the University of Bari, Italy.

A globally recognized expert with 25 years' experience, her research drives sustainable tourism through interdisciplinary approaches to policy, community-based development, and crisis management (e.g., Ebola/COVID-19). She specializes in leveraging tourism for economic stimulation, environmental conservation, and social impact in developing regions, with particular focus on rural diversification and travel philanthropy.

Her scholarly recognition includes:

• Leverhulme International Fellowship (2024–2025)
• Election to the Academy of Social Sciences
• Fellowship in the International Academy for the Study of Tourism

Professor Novelli has led high-impact research and consultancy for the World Bank, European Union, UN agencies (UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO), Commonwealth Secretariat, and national tourism boards, while supervising PhD candidates and developing curricula. Her work bridges academic rigor with real-world policy implementation.

She directs the STTAR Centre to advance collaborative research on tourism's role in sustainable development across global contexts.