About Dr Ian Joseph Morton
I have been a Lecturer in Tourism and Events at the University for the last 10 years. The majority of my work, in terms of teaching, research, and external engagement concerns cities and tourism’s place within them. Specific areas on which I focus include the role of urban public spaces in the life of the city, strategic policy and planning for tourism including specifically its symbiosis with urban spatial planning and the international development sector, how built heritage is used to develop stories and identities for urban areas that appeal to tourists, and the impact that popular contemporary movements within urban governance and spatial planning, such as the compact city agenda, have on the tourism sector.
In my work, I strive to understand, interpret, and contribute towards developing the academic areas mentioned above in both their regional and international contexts. At the University of Sunderland, we are lucky enough to attract fantastic students to our courses from the north-east of England, the UK, and around the world.
The tourism, hospitality and events sector plays a crucial role in economic diversification in the North-east of England and some of our students will contribute to the future growth of the sector regionally. Other students will play a part in the development of the sector internationally, sometimes in countries with very established visitor industries, and others where this is being developed for the first time.
My research interests and external engagement see me work in the north-east of England and internationally, particularly in Latin America. This experience helps me develop together with students an understanding of the globalised nature of the tourism, hospitality and events sector.
Teaching and supervision
I am Programme Leader for the MSc suite of tourism master's and I’m module leader for a number of modules.
Interests
I supervise undergraduate and postgraduate major project/dissertation students in topics generally concerning the city and tourism. This has included urban tourism, tourism planning, the link between tourism and urban regeneration, urban heritage and its role within the visitor economy, and transport and mobility in the city.
Research
My research is currently focused on the role of urban public spaces in the life of the city; and strategic policy and planning for tourism including specifically its symbiosis with urban spatial planning and the international development sector.
In addition, I have also identified certain overarching priorities for my research in general.
I have lived and worked in Latin America and conducted my PhD data collection there.
I continue to pursue an interest in improving my understanding of the impact and opportunities of tourism in urban areas of economically developing countries.
I believe there is space in tourism research for greater exploration of the similarities and differences in how economically more and less developed countries experience tourism, particularly in urban areas.
I also believe there is scope for extending and deepening the interdisciplinary links between the ‘neighbouring’ fields of research of tourism and urban geography, urban planning, and urban design.