The sociologist and cultural scientist will conduct research on sustainable and resilient location and tourism development. The professorship is the first in Austria in the field of urban tourism and is sponsored by the Vienna Chamber of Commerce (WKW).
Tourism is of great importance for Vienna. With its Visitor Economy Strategy, the City of Vienna pursues the goal of shaping this economic sector in such a way that it takes into account the interests of the population, the local economy and guests. An Endowed Chair for Sustainable Urban and Tourism Development at FHWien der WKW will provide scientific support for this process in the future. The newly created position will be taken over by Cornelia Dlabaja on August 1, 2023, and is designed to run for five years.
“With Cornelia Dlabaja, we have been able to attract a proven expert in urban sociology as an endowed professor. Her approach to urban spaces research, which takes equal account of visitors and residents, is in line with our understanding of contemporary destination management. The creation of the endowed professorship and its appointment are important signs of the relevance of tourism for Vienna. Dr.in Dlabaja’s research findings will not only benefit the local tourism industry as well as decision-makers in business and politics, but also the students of our Master’s program in Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management.“
says a delighted Florian Aubke, Head of Tourism & Hospitality Management Study Programs at FHWien der WKW.
About Cornelia Dlabaja
Cornelia Dlabaja is a sociologist with a PhD in cultural studies, specializing in urban and planning sociology, urban transformations, international tourism research, overtourism and inequality research. She brings with her extensive experience in applied and basic research, gained as a research associate at the Institute for Urban and Regional Research at the Austrian Academy of Sciences and during her many years at the Institute for European Ethnology at the University of Vienna.
Scientifically accompanying the Visitor Economy Strategy
The aim of the endowed professorship is to establish a research program for sustainable and resilient location and tourism development that provides scientific support for the implementation of the Visitor Economy Strategy.
Based on the challenges of sustainable tourism and urban development, the endowed professorship addresses socially relevant issues for location development. It analyzes them from multiple perspectives. It provides findings for practice by means of applied and basic research and accompanies the process of the Visitor Economy Strategy from conception to implementation
explains Cornelia Dlabaja.
>> Find out more about the Master’s program Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management