IGU Commission on the Geography of Tourism, Leisure and Global Change
9:00-15:00, Wednesday 20 January, 2010
I2.22

The integrating theme of all research endeavours in this Commission is "Tourism and Leisure in the Context of Global Change".

The overall objective of the Commission is the development and application of an internationally comparable research programme on the relationships between tourism, leisure and environmental and political global change. The research programme examines how tourism and leisure influence and are influenced by global change occurring in the natural environment as well as in (and through) political, and socio-economic processes. The programme encourages research that analyses how relationships between tourism, leisure and global change affect sustainability. Results are communicated to various academic, industry and policy arenas in order to influence policy in an effective and appropriate manner. The Commission has organized a programme through to 2014, and more information is available on http://tourismgeography.com/comm.aspx

These objectives will be pursued over the life of the Commission through a set of research 'tasks' that were defined through discussion with members and modified as appropriate during previous Study Group and Commission meetings. The Commission’s activities have been conducted in line with its goals and objectives and have resulted in a number of meetings, often in association with other relevant Commissions and organisations.

Co-participation in Positioning Geography: Strategic Issues in Geographical Education, in cooperation with the IGU Commission on Geographical Education and the IGU Commission on Geography and Gender will provide an interesting synergy for the IGU, and members of all Commissions are encouraged to offer papers that cross the boundaries.

Those who will attend the conference Positioning Geography are invited to join a field trip from 9:00 to 12:00 to discover the sites of leisure and tourism in Hamilton and its immediate surroundings. We’ll return to the university for a light lunch from 12:30 to 13:30.  In the afternoon, from 13:30 to 14:30 a round table will discuss the role of globalisation in facilitating/supporting the social construction of the various forms of tourism and leisure in this area and their future. It would be particularly interesting and useful to compare with experiences elsewhere. At 14:30 there will be a concluding comment and recording of outcomes that need to be reported to the IGU Commission on the Geography of Tourism, Leisure and Global Change. There can be slight changes to the schedule.

15:30-16:30 Conference welcome afternoon tea. (Registration is available from noon onwards)

16:30 Official opening of the conference Positioning Geography