Wednesday 19 December 2018 3:29pm
Dr Susan Houge Mackenzie hopes to put her research to good use as part of her new role on the inaugural Tourism Central Otago Advisory Board.
Otago Tourism lecturer Dr Susan Houge Mackenzie has been appointed to the inaugural Tourism Central Otago Advisory Board.
Dr Mackenzie is one of six appointees to the board, formed as part of the region’s new tourism strategy.
The strategy aims to guide the development of tourism in Central Otago, which is what prompted Dr Mackenzie to apply for the role.
Dr Mackenzie’s research investigates links between adventure and psychological well-being across tourism, recreation and education contexts using psychological frameworks. Her current work focuses on nature-based adventure and well-being for tourists, guides and host communities and tourism development in Queenstown.
"This is a good chance for me to ensure my research is having an effective and positive impact, and help ensure that tourism develops in a manner that supports the well-being of the region."
“This is a good chance for me to ensure my research is having an effective and positive impact, and help ensure that tourism develops in a manner that supports the well-being of the region.”
Central Otago is very close to Dr Mackenzie’s heart, as she moved to Dunedin in May this year after 16 years in Queenstown, where she worked as an adventure tourism guide, and lecturer in Queenstown Resort College’s diploma of Adventure Tourism Management.
“Central Otago is really important to me … it’s at a really critical time and its growth and future needs to be carefully considered.
“My research and work here at the University will complement what the new strategy is aiming to achieve,” she says.
Dr Mackenzie is joined on the board by Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan, tourism entrepreneur David Ritchie, Conventions and Incentives New Zealand chief executive Sue Sullivan, Dylan Rushbrook, who has recently returned to the region after a career in international sales and marketing, and Mark Frood, who has had a career with Destination Queenstown, Tourism New Zealand and Auckland International Airport.
Tourism Central Otago general manager Glenys Coughlan says the standard of applicants was “incredibly strong”.
“We have set a very clear direction for the region’s tourism development and so we had a very clear understanding of the kind of skills that we needed at a governance level.”
The first meeting of the Advisory Board will be early next year.