معرفی
Dr. Simon Thomas is a Senior Lecturer at the University of South Wales' South Wales Business School, specializing in Pilgrimage, Memorial & Tourism Studies. He leads the Doctor of Business Administration program and oversees the Tourism, Hospitality and Events Group. With a PhD in Pilgrimage Tourism (2013), he has extensive experience in doctoral supervision and external examining roles across UK institutions.
Education:
- PhD Pilgrimage Tourism, University of South Wales (2013)
- MA Heritage Tourism, University of Wales Trinity College Carmarthen (2005)
- PgCert Education (Tourism), University of Wales Newport (2003)
- BA (Hons) Tourism & Leisure Management, University of Glamorgan (2001)
Research Interests: Focused on pilgrimage tourism, heritage tourism innovation, and sustainable tourism development. His work bridges academic inquiry with practical applications, including a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the Cardiff Story Museum rated 'outstanding' by the KTP Board. Key themes include secular pilgrimage dynamics, autoethnographic methodologies, and cultural identity in tourism.
Publications: Over 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, including studies on Lourdes pilgrimage, Welsh heritage entrepreneurship, and thanatourism. Recent work explores NGO engagement strategies and digital tourism innovation.
Awards:
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
- Outstanding KTP Board Rating (Cardiff Story Museum collaboration)
- 4* ABS Full Paper Award
Advising & Grants: Supervised over 25 doctoral candidates across business and tourism disciplines. Active in external examining roles (e.g., Coventry University, Bishop Grossteste University) and curriculum design. Led projects funded by the Welsh Government and private sector partnerships.
Labs & Teams: Research Lead for the Tourism, Hospitality and Events Group, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration on tourism policy, innovation, and cultural heritage.
