Lecturer in Sustainable Tourism Management

Growing up in a traditional seaside resort on the North coast of Cornwall, Natalie Semley has a detailed understanding of the tourism industry. Her career path has taken many turns and her experience varies, from delivering visitor services to working in academia.

Natalie's engagement in industry and academia over the years has helped to establish her passion for, and understanding of, the tourism industry. She has been recognised for her contribution by the Tourism Management Institute and is currently employed as a lecturer in Sustainable Tourism Management.

Prior to this appointment, Natalie worked as the Development Manager for Trenance Cottages Newquay – a registered charity who own and manage a heritage site in Newquay, Cornwall. This role involved marketing management, event feasibility and planning, fundraising, as well as engagement with public and private organisations and individuals – with the main aim to generate a sustainable income to 'keep the cottages alive' for generations to come.

Natalie's academic roles extend back to 2007 when she was first appointed as a Lecturer at the University of Plymouth. It was within this role that Natalie developed her pedogeological practice and worked towards becoming a Senior Fellow of the HEA (2016).

Contact details

Qualifications

Qualifications

Year Qualification Awarding body
2012 PhD in Tourism Management University of Plymouth
2006 MSc Tourism and Hospitality Management University of Plymouth
2005 Bsc (Hons) Business and Tourism University of Plymouth

Honors and awards

Year Description
2016

Senior Fellow of the HEA

Research Interests

Research interests and expertise

Natalie's research interests include sustainable destination management, eventfulness and exploring the subject of authenticity from an experience design perspective. She also has an interest in specific forms of niche tourism, innovative methods of delivering stories and developing the methodological approaches of tourism-related studies.

Research Students

Current research students

Natalie has supervised a range of undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Each project has centred upon the experience design sector, but the content has cut across the entire tourism sector. From an exploration of destination imagery to food tourism, and tourism-related crime focuses, Natalie is happy to engage with any topic that helps to advance knowledge in the tourism industry.

Research degrees examined

  • Seventy-six UG dissertations to completion.
  • Six MSc dissertations to completion.
  • Two PhD theses to completion as co-supervisor.
  • One MPhil, Plymouth University 2017

Teaching

Areas of teaching

  • Crisis and Disaster Management
  • Demonstrating Sustainability
  • Event / Tourism / Festival Innovation Project
  • Event Tourism
  • Festival Tourism
  • Tourism Development
  • Tourist Behaviour

Professional Engagement

Independent professional practice

External panel member, FdA approval event, Staffordshire University, 2015

Engagement with professional associations and societies

  • Fellow of the Tourism Management Institution (TMI)
  • Member of the TMI CPD Working Group
  • Member of the Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT)