Suiwen Zou

Suiwen (Sharon) Zou is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois. She holds additional affiliations as Bock Agricultural Law and Policy Fellow in Agricultural and Consumer Economics and an affiliate of the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies. Her work bridges tourism management, legal policy analysis, and environmental governance.

Zou's research focuses on visitor behavior in recreational spaces, including national parks, cruise industries, and agritourism. Key themes include fee policy design, service recovery mechanisms, and the intersection of law with tourism operations. She employs mixed-methods approaches, comparing experimental methodologies like vignettes and virtual reality simulations.

Her recent work examines cognitive drivers behind public support for greenspace initiatives and the impact of meteorological factors on maritime tourism. Zou serves on editorial boards for key journals including Leisure/Loisir, Journal of Travel Research, and Event Management, demonstrating her leadership in scholarly discourse.

Research collaborations span environmental policy frameworks, rural community transformation through tourism, and legal risk mitigation strategies. While no formal awards are listed, her extensive publication record reflects sustained academic contribution across multiple disciplines.