Last year a record number of guests visited the Seal Centre, and this year is off to a great start.
Year-on-year our February visitor numbers have more than tripled, and we are delighted with those results.
New Head of Tourism Research
Jessica Faustini Aquino is head of the tourism research department at the Icelandic Seal Center and faculty at Hólar University College (http://www.holar.is/). She holds a Ph.D. in Community Resources and Development from Arizona State University, USA. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology and a Master of Science in Recreation and Tourism Studies. Her research interests are in tourism experience from the perspective of residents and tourist; and the potential contribution that tourism has on community development and conservation of protected areas.
Publications
Refereed Journal Articles
Aquino, J., Phillips, R., & Sung, H. (2012). Tourism, culture, and the creative industries: Reviving distressed neighborhoods with arts-based community tourism. Tourism, Culture & Communication.
White, D. D., Aquino, J. F., Budruk, M., & Golub, A. (2011). Visitors’ experiences of traditional and alternative transportation in Yosemite National Park. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration.
Work in Progress
Aquino, J., & Andereck, K. (submitted). Sustainable tourism: A look at volunteer tourism in favela communities of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Papers Published in Refereed Proceedings
White, D. D., & Aquino, J. F. (2015). Park-Related Tourism. Presented at the 106th Arizona Town Hall, Tucson, Arizona. April 2015. In Spring 2015 Town Hall Background Report: jesTransportation and Arizona. Kuby, M. and Golub (eds.). Tempe, AZ: Arizona State University. http://aztownhall.org/page-1863425
White, D. D., & Aquino, J. F. (2009). Transportation issues in national parks. Presented at the 94th Arizona Town Hall, Tucson, Arizona. April 2009. In From here to there: Transportation opportunities for Arizona. Kuby, M. and Golub (eds.). Tempe, AZ: Arizona State University. http://aztownhall.org/94
Refereed Conference Presentations
Aquino, J., & Andereck, K. (2012). NGOs and volunteer tourism: A look at volunteer tourism in favela (slum) communities of Rio de Janeiro. Presentation at Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Aquino, J., Andereck, K., & Costa, H. A. (2012) Perceived impacts of volunteer tourism in favelas of Rio de Janeiro (RJ): Through the eyes of the tourists. Presentation at the IX Seminário da Associação Nacional Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Turismo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Aquino, J., & Andereck, K. (2012). Sustainable tourism: A look at volunteer tourism in favela communities of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Presentation at Travel and Tourism Research Association Annual Student Research Symposium (and 8th Symposium for TTRA), Virginia Beach, VA, USA.
Aquino, J., Phillips, R., & Sung, H. (2012). Tourism, culture, and the creative industries: Reviving distressed neighborhoods with arts-based community tourism. Paper presented by co-authors Rhonda Phillips and Erika Sung at the University of the West Indies 2nd International Tourism Conference, St. Augustine, Trinidad.
Aquino, J., & Andereck, K. (2011). Perceived effects of volunteer tourism in Rio de Janeiro’s favela community of Rocinha: Working toward best practice in sustainable tourism. Presentation at Travel and Tourism Research Association Annual Student Research Symposium (and 7th Symposium for TTRA), London, Ontario, Canada.
Aquino, J. F., White, D. D., & Meldrum, B. (2008). The Freedom to Stay in My Car: Visitors Experience and the Transportation System in Yosemite National Park. Presentation at the International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Burlington, VT, USA.
Technical Research Reports (*denotes authors in alphabetical order and who worked equally)
Phillips, R., Aquino, J., Lee, S., Plunkett, D. (2010). 2010 Hatcher Road Economic Development Plan. Report for the Desert Mission Neighborhood Renewal and the Hatcher Road Subcommittee. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University
*Aquino, J. & Biaett, V. (2010). Working Together: A qualitative analysis of the Arizona Be Outdoors Movement. Report for the Be Outdoors Arizona. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University
Knopf, R. Aquino, J., Lee, S.and Plunkett, D. (2009). Valley of the Sun United Way: Improving the Health and Safety of Valley Neighborhoods. Report for the Valley of the Sun United Way. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University
White, D. D. & Aquino, J. F. (2008). Visitor perspectives toward transportation issues in Yosemite National Park. Report for Yosemite National Park. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University
White, D. D., van Riper, C. J., Wodrich, J., Aquino, J., & McKinney C. (2007). Canyon de Chelly National Monument Visitor Study Final Technical Report. (Prepared for the National Park Service). Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University
Johnson, J., Rice, K., & Aquino, J. (2007). Subcontract for USFWS Section 6 Status Report on Muhlenbergia xerophila and Muhlenbergia dubioides. Report for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Phoenix, AZ: Desert Botanical Garden
Other Publications
Aquino, J., & Andereck, K. (2014). The Role that Volunteer Tourism in Favela Communities of Rio de Janeiro Play on Community Pride and Self-esteem. Favelas@LSE: A dialogue Between the UK and Brazil. Retrieved from http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/favelasatlse/2014/08/21/the-psychosocial-impact-of-volunteer-tourism-in-the-favelas-of-rio-de-janeiro/.
Aquino, J., & Andereck, K. (2012). Sustainable tourism and volunteer tourism in favela (slum) communities of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The VolunTourist™ Newsletter, 8(2). Retrieved from http://www.voluntourism.org/news-studyandresearch82.htm.
Other Presentations
Aquino, J. (2012). Turismo Sustentável: Turismo voluntário nas favelas de Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Presentation for the research group do Laboratório de Estudos em Turismo e Sustentabilidade, Centro de Excelência em Turismo. Universidade de Brasília, DF, Brasil
Aquino, J. (2011). Volunteer Tourism: A Debate. Presentation at the lecture series at Fundação Getulio Vargas com o Laboratório de Estudos do Turismo, Esporte e Lazer; do Centro de Pesquisa e Documentação de História Contemporânea do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Aquino, J. (2011). Volunteer Tourism in Rio de Janeiro: Voluntários Sejam Bem-Vindos! Presentation at the 3rd Annual School of Community Resource and Development Graduate Research Symposium, Phoenix, AZ.
Aquino, J. (2011). NGOs, Volunteer Tourism, and Community Development: A case study of the favela community of Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Presentation at the College of Public Programs Doctoral Student Research Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
Aquino, J., & Andereck, K. (2011). Efeitos Percebidos do Turismo e do Voluntariado na Favela da Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro: Trabalhar para as melhores práticas em turismo sustentável. Guest Presentation at the University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
Aquino, J. F. (2009). Has risk management killed free play? Presentation at the 1st Annual School of Community Resource and Development Graduate Research Symposium, Phoenix, AZ.
Lee, S., Aquino, J. F., Plunkett, D., Knopf, R., & Paris, C. (2009). Living united: from classroom to community. Presentation at the 1st Annual School of Community Resource and Development Graduate Research Symposium, Phoenix, AZ.
Aquino, J. F., White, D. D., Bacon, J., & Meldrum, B. (2007). Determining visitor attitudes toward alternative transportation in Yosemite National Park: Implications for indicators and standards. Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Park City, Utah.
Record Number of Visitors in 2015
2015 was a record breaking year in visitor numbers, a total of 27,150 guests visited us; a 35% increase on 2014, the previous record holder.
NAMMCO Conference
Sandra Granquist attended the scientific conference Impacts of Human Disturbance on Arctic Marine Mammals that was held by NAMMCO the 13th-15th of October in Copenhagen. She gave a presentation there, with the title “Effects of wildlife watching tourism on Arctic marine mammals, with a special note on harbour seal watching in Iceland”. Sandra and her team have for several years conducted comprehensive research into the effects of tourism on wild animals, and the lecture, among other things, presented the findings of these studies.
Nordic Symposium
The 24th Nordic Symposium in Tourism and Hospitality was held in Reykjavik on the 1-3 October.
Dr Leah Burns, head of the tourism research department here at the Icelandic Seal Centre, was on the conference organising committee. Dr Burns ran a joint session with Sandra Granquist, head of our Biological Department, called “Responsibly Engaging with Animals in Tourism”.
Both of them presented papers in that session. The titles were:
1. Codes of conduct for seal watching: An investigation of guidelines for human behaviour
Authors: Elin Lilja Öqvist, Sandra Granquist, Georgette Leah Burns and Anders Angerbjörn
2. Interpretation in wildlife tourism: Assessing the effectiveness of signage to modify visitor behaviour at a seal watching site in Iceland
Authors: Sarah Marschall, Sandra Granquist and Georgette Leah Burns