Current Research Projects

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) (Grant reference: RES-186-27-0015) Environmental management and the tourism sector
The politics of reginional events policy formation and change
Professionalism in events and tourism
Review of research progress on tourism SMEs

External Research Roles

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events
Editorial Board member: Local Economy, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, WHATT (Journal of World Wide Hospitality and Tourism Trends)

Recent Keynote Presentations

Moving and Shaking: regional tourism and events policy formation. Regional Studies Association. University of Warsaw, Poland. September, 2009.

Major events and the politics of regional tourism policy-making. European Cities Marketing Conference. University of Göteborg, Sweden. June, 2009.

Working with stakeholders. Tourism PhD networking conference. TTRI, University of Nottingham, July, 2009.

Evidence, emotions and expediency: The case for clarity and rigour in events tourism policy formation and evaluation. Keynote presentation at the 3rd Global Events Congress: Events, Business Travel and Tourism. Sun Yat-Sen University, China (in collaboration with University of Queensland, Australia). November, 2008.

Small firms and destination competitiveness. Regional Studies Association Tourism Conference. Aalborg University, Denmark. November, 2008.

Professionalism in the festivals and events sector. Keynote presentation at IFEA Europe Annual Conference: The Art of growing - Lifecycles of festivals and events. Athens, Greece. February, 2007.

Professionalism, professionalisation and the travel industry. Keynote presentation at the ITT international annual conference. Gran Canaria. June, 2007.

The politics of local events and festivals policy: what role for small firms? Keynote presentation at: Using events and festivals to develop tourism conference (Association of Spanish and Czech Academics). University of Seville, Spain. October.

Lead conference panel presentation: Professionalism and professionalisation: A model of failure? 25th Leeds. October. EuroCHRIE Annual Conference.

Recent Publications

Walmsley, A and Thomas, R (2009) Understanding and influencing the entrepreneurial intentions of tourism students. In Atelejevic, J and Page, S (Eds) Progress in Tourism Entrepreneurship. Advances in Tourism Research Series. Oxford: Elsevier.

Thomas, R (Ed) (2009) Managing Regional Tourism: A Case Study of Yorkshire, England.  Bradford: Great Northern Books.

Wood, E and Thomas, R  (2008) Festivals and tourism in rural economies. In Jane Ali-McKnight, Martin Robertson, Fyall, A and Lakin A (Eds) International Perspectives on Festivals and Events.  Oxford: Butterworth- Heinemann.

Thomas, R and Hind, D (2007) The self-catering accommodation sector in Yorkshire, England. International Journal of Hospitality Management. 26 (2):328-335.

Thomas, R, Parsons, D, Barry, J, Rowe, V and Walsh, K (2007) Employer co-funded training in the UK: Current practice and policy considerations. Education and Training. 49 (2): 112 – 125.

Thomas, R (2007) Tourism partnerships and small firms: power, participation and partition. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. 8(1): 37 – 44.

Wood, E and Thomas, R (2006) Measuring cultural values: the case of residents' attitudes to the Saltaire festival. Tourism Economics. 12 (1): 137 -146.

Thomas, R and Thomas, H (2006) Micro-politics and micro-firms: a case study of tourism policy formation and change. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. 13 (1): 100 - 114.

Walmsley, A, Thomas, R and Jameson, S  (2006) Surprise and sense-making: placement experiences in SMEs. Education and Training. 48 (5): 360-372.

Recent Research Reports

Thomas, R and McCullough, N (2009) An Economic Impact Assessment of Northern Rail Blackpool 9s. Rugby Football League, Leeds.

Thomas, R (2009) Flexible Working Practices in Travel and Tourism. Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) Research Report Number 3. London: ITT.

Walmsley, A and Thomas, R (2008) The River Hull Project: The Deep, Hull

THOMAS, R (with D Vanel)(2008) Attitutes to climate change: A survey of travel agents and tour operators. Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) Research Report Number 2. London: ITT.

OECD (2007) Fostering entrepreneurship and SME development in support of alternative tourism in Bulgaria (with C. Cooper, N. Vagionis, A. Dupeyras, A. Proto). Trento: OECD.

Recent Conference Presentations

Thomas, R., Bowdin, McElhinney, S and Bell, S (2009) Professionalism and professionalisation in the events and festivals sector. 7th AEME Events Management Educators Forum, University of Sampaio, A, Thomas, R and Font, X (2008) Beliefs and preferences for adopting environmental practices in accommodation smaller firms. IASK (International Association for scientific Knowledge) International Conference: Advances in Tourism Research. Aveiro, Portugal. May.

Walmsley, A, Jameson, S and Thomas, R (2009) Placement students’ adaptation to new organisational setting. CHME Conference. University of Brighton, May.

Walmsley, A, Jameson, S and Thomas, R (2009) Employment experiences in SMEs. EuroCHRIE Annual Conference 2009. Helsinki, Finland, October 2009.

Wood, E, Smith, B and Thomas, R (2009) Linking community festivals to social change: Trial and tribulation. The International Event Summit, Incorporating The Australian Centre for Event Management 5th International Event Management Research Conference and The 3rd Event Education and Research Network Australia (EERNA) Symposium, Australia, July 2009.

Web Links

Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events
Inaugural professorial lecture
Institute of Travel and Tourism