Follow Christy on twitter @christyhehir

In 2016 Christy was awarded a 3 year scholarship to complete a PhD at the University of Surrey, UK. Her research within the fields of tourism and environmental psychology – aims to understand which enjoyable factors of a travel experience are most likely to trigger changes in tourist behaviour, so that we can continue to enjoy tourism while still protecting our planet.

Research interests: Tourism experiences, Polar Regions, Remote destinations, last chance travel, Environmental psychology, Influencing tourist behaviour, Ambassadorship, Quantitative methods

Christy graduated with an MSc in Tourism Management in 2009. Her thesis entitled, ‘The future of Antarctica. Is tourism an ally or an enemy?’ was awarded the European ITB top graduate Sustainability Science Award 2010.  Since graduating she has held positions at Bournemouth Tourism, The Tourism Society, VisitEngland and VisitBritain, as their Research and Evaluation Specialist. In 2011, she was invited by Dr. Peter Prokosch, Managing Director UNEP/GRID-Arendal to participate in a 7-day training and research expedition in Svalbard. This trip led to the publication of her first book ‘Arctic Reflections’, considering tourists’ heightened environmental actions since visiting the Polar Regions.

Publications:

–  Arctic Reflections: Moments of Inspiration a lifetime of Action By Luka Tomac and Christy Hehir  ISBN-10: 953-6214-23-7 Publisher: Zelena akcija – Friends of the Earth Croatia2012 131 pages (Book Preview http://eu-arctic-forum.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Arctic-Refelections_British-Council.pdf )

–  The one billionth passenger: A cause for concern or celebration? By Christy Hehir Tourism: The Journal for the Tourism Industry Spring 2012 Issue 149

–  Junior Research Fellow AFF at the Arctic Forum since 2012.