Putting people at the heart of sustainable tourism: dr Anke Winchenbach visits the Faculty of Economics
The Faculty of Economics at the University of Gdańsk welcomed dr Anke Winchenbach from the University of Surrey through the University’s Visiting Professors Programme. An internationally recognised researcher and expert, she specialises in social sustainability, decent work, human rights and gender equality in tourism.
Dr Anke Winchenbach is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Surrey Business School and Co-Director of the Centre for Sustainability and Wellbeing in the Visitor Economy (SWELL). She also serves as Co-Chair of the ISA RC50 Research Committee on the Sociology of Tourism and is a member of the UN Tourism Expert Group on Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism.
Her work brings together research, consultancy and teaching. She focuses on how tourism affects workers and local communities and how it can support a fair distribution of benefits, decent working conditions and more resilient societies. She has led research and consultancy projects for organisations including UN Tourism, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
The visit provided opportunities to meet Faculty staff and students, exchange ideas and discuss future research collaboration. Dr Winchenbach collaborates with Professor Piotr Zientara and Dr Joanna Adamska on research exploring the role of trade unions in advancing social sustainability in tourism.
An interview with dr Anke Winchenbach, conducted by Karolina Żuk-Wieczorkiewicz, is now available on the University of Gdańsk website. The conversation explores ethical tourism, workers’ rights, the responsibilities of the tourism industry and the importance of connecting research with practice. Dr Winchenbach also shares her reflections on her stay at the Faculty of Economics.
Read the interview: