Personal profile
Research Biography
Gareth's research interests include sustainable tourism, the social impacts of tourism on communities, heritage tourism management and human mobilities. He is currently Co-Editor in Chief of the Journal of Heritage Tourism, and has produced almost 50 research outputs on themes including the impacts of tourism development on communities, and tourist mobilities. His work has been cited in policy documentation for the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as well as in several government tourism development strategies around the world.
Gareth recently worked on the Federally-funded Passport to Recovery project on Kangaroo Island that built citizen science projects to support 2019-20 bushfire recovery, a project that was selected as a Finalist for the Australian Museum’s 2024 Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science.
Beyond Australia, Gareth presently holds the title of Senior Research Affiliate at the University of Johannesburg and continues to work on funded research projects in rural South Africa and Lesotho.
Research Interests
Sustainable tourism development, community engagement, tourism mobilities, heritage tourism, socio-cultural impacts of tourism, independent travel, national parks.
Completed Supervisions
Straiton, P. (2022). Assessing the Economic and Sociocultural Value of Maritime Cultural Heritage Sites: An Interdisciplinary Pilot Study [Doctoral dissertation, Flinders University].
Completed Supervisions
Tikhonova, D. (2020). The Place of Challenge and Post-Travel Culture Involvement in Small Group Tourism [Doctoral dissertation, Flinders University].
Completed Supervisions
- Visitor Motivations and Expectations at Naracoorte Caves National Park (1)
Supervised Students Successes
Straiton, P. (2022). Recipient of the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Doctoral Thesis Excellence [Flinders University].
External positions
Senior Research Affiliate, University of Johannesburg
4 May 2013 → 31 Oct 2027
Supervision
- Registered
Research Areas
- Geography
- Sociology
Supervisory Interests
- Heritage studies
- Cultural tourism
- Tourism development
- Tourism impacts
- Tourism geographies
- Migration
- Diasporas
- National parks
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Community-Based Transformational Leadership: Advancing SDGs in Indonesia’s Banyuwangi Tourism Villages
Asmoro, A. Y., Butler, G., Saikia, U. & Szili, G., 9 Jul 2025. 5 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review
Open AccessFile56 Downloads (Pure) -
From Port Misery to Post-Misery? Spectral-geographies and exorcising ‘ghosts’ in Port Adelaide
Szili, G., Butler, G. & Adie, B. A., 2025, In: Tourism Geographies: an international journal of tourism place, space and environment. 27, 1, p. 85-101 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)43 Downloads (Pure) -
Saudi youth views on hosting western music festivals: problematic performances and positive perceptions
Hothan, A. & Butler, G., 2025, In: World Leisure Journal. 67, 1, p. 19-32 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)133 Downloads (Pure) -
Stakeholder
Marzuki, A., Hay, I. & Butler, G., 1 Jan 2025, Encyclopedia of Tourism. Jafari, J. & Xiao, H. (eds.). Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature, p. 994-996 3 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Open Access -
Strengthening Tourism Governance for Sustainable Livelihoods: A Mixed-Methods Study of Banyuwangi's Tourism Villages
Asmoro, A. Y., Butler, G., Saikia, U. & Szili, G., 25 Jul 2025, (Accepted/In press). 3 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review
Open AccessFile35 Downloads (Pure)
Projects
- 2 Finished
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Sustainable Development Goal Mapping Pilot Project
Butler, G. (Chief Investigator (Project Lead)), Stephens, J. (Chief Investigator), Ridley, K. (Chief Investigator), Szili, G. (Chief Investigator), Matwiejczyk, L. (Chief Investigator), Pecar, K. (Chief Investigator), Cury, R. (Chief Investigator), Bayat, A. (Chief Investigator) & Dent, C. (Chief Investigator)
2/05/25 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Tourism development as a vehicle of reconciliation in ‘post-conflict’ Bangladesh: Indigenous Community Perspectives from the Chittagong Hill Tracts
Butler, G. (Chief Investigator (Project Lead))
30/06/19 → 6/12/21
Project: Research
Prizes
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CHASS Innovation in Teaching Award
Butler, G. (Recipient), Cavanagh, K. (Recipient) & Carter, H. (Recipient), 13 Jul 2023
Prize
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Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science
Burke Da Silva, K. (Recipient), Ross, K. (Recipient), Beaman, J. (Recipient), Baring, R. (Recipient) & Butler, G. (Recipient), Sept 2025
Prize
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Vice Chancellor's Award for Innovation in Teaching
Butler, G. (Recipient), Burke Da Silva, K. (Recipient), Cavanagh, K. (Recipient), Ross, K. (Recipient), Carter, H. (Recipient) & Beaman, J. (Recipient), 2023
Prize