Tourism, Inclusion, Events and Society Research Excellence Group are performed broadly through the active engagement of people as consumers or service providers, policy makers and destination communities. The Research Excellence Group works as an interdisciplinary open pool of researchers and PhD students from across the University of Brighton and practitioners from a well-established network of international agencies, governments, private businesses and NGOs, destinations communities at local, national and international level.

Through critical scholarship and interdisciplinary approaches, the THE REG seeks to make a difference to the quality of decision making that underpins the development and management of these sectors and to the understanding of the socio-economic, cultural and natural environments in which these occur.

In line with University of Brighton Responsible, Connected and Radical Futures agendas and as an Affiliate Member of the UN World Tourism Organisation, the THE REG’s vision is to produce world-leading, innovative and impactful research through interdisciplinary and transformative approaches that rethink knowledge and practices in ways that are socially just and environmentally sustainable.

Our broad research themes include: Policy, Practice and Development; Heritage, Culture and Identity; Consumer Behaviour and Ethical Practice; Visualising Tourism and Leisure: ways of seeing and performing culture; Hospitality People and Technology; International Events:  Communities, Conflicts and Identities.

Amongst our research funders, partners and clients are:

• The World Bank
• UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
• UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
• The European Union (EU)
• The Commonwealth Secretariat
• The Environmental Agency, UK
• South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
• The Canals and Rivers Trust, UK
• East Africa Tourism Platform
• The Gambia Ministry of Tourism and Culture
• Gambia Tourism Board
• Namibia Tourism Board
• The Travel Foundation
• Eastbourne Borough Council